Millions of years ago tree trunks were buried under several hundred yards of sediment. Over the course of time the wood was replaced by microcrystalline quartz, largely chalcedony and jasper. During the replacement process by silica carried in underground waters, even the most minute details of the woody structure was preserved.
When a designer cabochon is cut perpendicular to the palm trunk, the tubes of the vascular structure often display as an array of "dots."
This is actually a pseudomorph, chalcedony gemstone replacing the wood. Therefore Petrified Palm Wood is actually a member of the chalcedony family with a hardness of 6.5 to 7.
The designer cabochons have beautiful polka dot patterns.
The largest single deposit of Petrified Wood is in Indonesia.
Petrified Wood in general is believed to be a stone of patience, and slow and steady growth. Petrified Wood is said to help one overcome limiting emotional patterns handed down through one's ancestors.