How long does it take to petrify wood?

Answer 1

Wood can be petrified in a matter of days or weeks given the right chemical "cocktail'. Although the exact recipe is patented by Hamilton Hicks of Greenwich, Connecticut, the mix includes materials commonly found in areas of volcanic activity. Mineral rich waters containing calcium, magnesium, and manganese as well as some type of acid produce a bath that penetrates the wood and petrifies it. At the Department of Energy lab wood has been petrified by using an acid bath, followed by soaking in silica then being dried in an argon-filled furnace. In Queensland, Australia there have been numerous examples of fence posts, axe-chopped wood, etc with known dates in the early 1900's being buried then when later uncovered. It would appear that contrary to the common thinking on the subject of petrification the process does not take millions of years but rather a particular set of circumstances including acids, minerals, and hot and/or dry conditions. This explains how the wood grain is so perfectly preserved in the petrification process. If the process took millions of years the wood would have long since deteriorated and therefore the material which replaced it would not have the look and grain of wood.

Answer 2

Under the right conditions, it can occur quite rapidly. There are documented cases of buried fenceposts becoming petrified in as little as 50 years.

The process is well understood and can be accomplished in the laboratory, with the application of heat and pressure, in as little as 7 days. However, it is debatable whether such artificial methods produce true petrification, as opposed to permineralization, since the organic cell walls are not entirely replaced with minerals.

Answer 3

In order for fossilization to take place the tooth must be buried. The burial limits exposure to oxygen and bacteria. It usually takes thousands of years for the sharks tooth to fossilize.

Answer 4

In the right circumstances, petrification can be quite rapid, less than 10 years.

Answer 5

Well less than a 100 years at least.

Answer 6

Maybe about as long as dinosaur bones.