A Unique Petrified Tree Fern from Northeast China

Abstract

Petrified wood is the fossilized remains of ancient trees that have undergone a process occurring over millions of years (Nowak et al., 2005;Yoon and Kim, 2008;Kim et al., 2010). During this process, dissolved SiO 2 infiltrates the organic matter of buried trees, causing the precipitation of various crystalline siliceous minerals along the wood fiber cells. As a consequence, silicified fossils with preserved woody structures are formed (Mu-