Every so often when researching some of the unique stones I have been photographing, I come across some interesting stories. Usually, it is after the fact because I usually search by what visually attracts me versus anything else. Also, it is usually after the fact that I realize some of these pieces are pretty rare in supply. This happened to me recently in a bid I placed on a unique piece of petrified wood, unlike anything I have ever seen before.
It had these colorful bands (formally tree rings) interlaced with graphical features that resembled hieroglyphics (being the first thing that came to mind) on some type of special parchment. I was mesmerized by it. I had to have it. Instead of looking up what I was bidding on, I just put in a pretty high bid that I thought would ensure my future win. Bidding on this small 2-inch-sized piece of rock was hovering around $20 or so for a week, so I was getting pretty confident I would win. Then on the last day, the price for this piece skyrocketed, right past my maximum, and sold to someone else for $134. I was stunned. What the heck was this stuff?
Unique and Rare Petrified Wood
After licking my wounds of ignorance, I started doing research. I was bidding on what is known as Hell’s Canyon Herringbone Petrified Wood. Turns out the stuff is quite rare because there was only one known stash of it and is now very limited in supply. As the story goes, there was a family that discovered and collected it in the 1950s in Hell’s Canyon on the Oregon/Idaho border. To protect it from cracking during winter, they got someone to use a backhoe to bury it on their land. It remained buried for a while until descendants had it dug up and sold. Then the entire area was flooded with the building of the Hell’s Canyon Dam. The entire region is now deep underwater. No other source has been found since.
Hell’s Canyon Petrified Wood – a prehistoric sequoia tree
My research found that a paleobotanist identified this wood at one time as being from a sequoia tree existing between the Cretaceous and Miocene epochs (between 145 million and 5 million years ago) and estimated the tree may have been 7 feet in diameter.
I find it has the most unique character of all of the petrified woods I have come across. Well, I kept my eyes out for it and ended up with some great pieces for myself. One seller stated that this material on the market now is typically between $40-60 an ounce. That’s about 3x more than the current market price of pure silver!
The little pockets and voids you see are believed to be the result of dry rot while the tree was standing. My imagination tells me they are the tree’s penmanship telling its story over the years. The story continues here with these photographs and many more to come.
I happened on your website while looking for information about Hell’s Canyon herringbone sequioa petrified wood. (I recently acquired a small cab and was curious as to its age.) So glad I did! Your photos are lovely — I’ve scrolled through a few categories — but I also wanted to compliment you on your choice of quotes. They were all very meaningful to me.
Thanks Kathy! I love the patterns in Hells Canyon, and such an interesting story of the place. Hope you create something wonderful with it.
wonderful shots, really eye-catching. I can see why you had to have it, glad you found some 🙂
Your comment reminded me I have still more to photograph with this particular stone. Thanks Suzy.
Interesting that it is the Redwood tree that produces such beautiful and rare petrified wood. Topping all this to me though, are the images of it, Mark. Very fine work.
Thanks David.
The details on this image are so amazing, it amazes so much detail it has in which most of us tend to ignore. It gives such a weird feeling at least towards me every time i look at it. Great detail capture I absolutely love this.
Thank you Jhoselin
Well this post rates tops with me for two reasons. The first reason of course being the wonderfully beautiful and detailed photos…what an amazing substance this Hell’s Canyon Petrified Wood is! The second reason is the educational factor. I’d never heard of this variety of petrified wood…heck, I didn’t even know there were varieties! 🙂
Excellent post, Mark, and I hope there are some more photos like this in the works!
It is quite amazing in detail eh? Sure there are many varieties of petrified wood. I would imagine almost as many as there are of trees, but not certain. I hold this particular one though as the King.
What a great story and some beautiful shots, Mark. Wow! Who knew that “rocks” could fetch such a price. Now, you have beautiful pictures and money for retirement! 😀
I do wonder if the value will keep going up! 🙂 Seems like a better commodity than pork bellies! 🙂
Beautiful pieces of wood and another example of natures hand at art (and history). And, that does sound expensive. My first thought is there are probably other locations of such findings unless they are also underwater.
I have wondered the same. But I get the feeling this stuff isn’t just lying around in the surface. Hmmm, I wonder if I could go diving in that reservoir?
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. So glad you were able to find more for yourself. The “tree’s penmanship” is a lovely idea. Looking forward to seeing more of your renditions of the Hell’s Canyon Petrified Wood.
Thanks Linda. I am looking forward to digging into them more.
There’s history everywhere, isn’t there Mark? Fascinating story, and who would have thought that you would be outbid for something that most people would call a rock.
Glad you were able to get some of your own. These macro photos are inspiring.
Thanks Tom.
Wow, that is quite an interesting tale! I bet you could make some amazing photos with that wood. Are you going to be bidding on it if more comes to market????
I have my eye out for it Howard, not sure if the budget can handle it though. I managed to pick up a few great pieces at less than the market rate which will keep me busy for awhile. Some pieces are much better than others.
I look forward to seeing the images from the pieces you have Mark!!