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Fossil wood, also known asfossilized tree, iswood that is preserved in thefossil record. Over time the wood will usually be the part of a plant that is best preserved (and most easily found). Fossil wood may or may not bepetrified, in which case it is known aspetrified wood orpetrified tree. The study of fossil wood is sometimes calledpalaeoxylology, and apalaeoxylologist is somebody who studies fossil wood.
The fossil wood may be the only part of the plant that has been preserved, with the rest of the plant completely unknown:[1] therefore such wood may get a special kind ofbotanical name. This will usually include "xylon" and a term indicating its presumed (not necessarily certain) affinity, such asAraucarioxylon (wood similar to that of extantAraucaria or some related genus likeAgathis orWollemia),Palmoxylon (wood similar to that of modernArecaeae), orCastanoxylon (wood similar to that of modernchinkapin orchestnut tree).[2]
Petrified wood are fossils of wood that have turned to stone through the process ofpermineralization.[3] All organic materials are replaced with minerals while maintaining the original structure of the wood.
The most notable example is thepetrified forest inArizona.[4]
Mummified wood are fossils of wood that have not permineralized.[5] They are formed when trees are buried rapidly in dry cold or hot environments. They are valued in paleobotany because they retain original cells and tissues capable of being examined with the same techniques used with extant plants indendrology.[6]
Notable examples include the mummified forests inEllesmere Island[7] andAxel Heiberg Island.[8]
Submerged forests are remains of trees submerged bymarine transgression. They are important in determiningsea level rise since thelast glacial period.[9]
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