13. Belgium

Typical of the petrified driftwood from Belgium/La Calamine is the infection with the Teredo mollusc larvae. The bore holes are often filled with blue chalcedon or wonderful agates. The wood was found at the border area Belgium/Germany. It dates to the Cretaceous geologic age. The wood predominant conifers is very attractive because of the nice agates in the bore holes.

unknown (ca. 100 x 120 mm)

14. Greece

The island of Lesvos, which is the third largest Greek island after Crete and Euboea, is located to the NE of the Aegean sea. The western part of the island is infertile and presents an undulating wavy regional geomorphology due to the intense erosion of the pyroclastic rocks. It is also in this part of the island where remains of fossil plants appear within the volcanic rocks. The fossilised tree trunks comprise the well known «Petrified forest of Lesvos», which has been declared a Protected Natural Monument. The area enclosed exposes large accumulations of fossilised tree trunks comprising the Petrified forest of Lesvos. The fossilised forest was developed during the time period from the end of the Late Oligocene to Lower - Middle Miocene (about 20 - 15 million years before present), in contrast to most well known fossilised forests on Earth, which developed in earlier geological periods. According to recent scientific data, the composition of the fossil flora is characterised by a high proportion of angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (conifers), and a low proportion of Pteridophytes (ferns).
The volcanic eruptions during this time, produced lavas, pyroclastic materials and volcanic ash, which covered the vegetation of the area. The rapid covering of tree trunks, branches, and leaves led to isolation from atmospheric conditions. Along with the volcanic activity, hot solutions of silicon dioxide penetrated and impregnated the volcanic materials that covered the tree trunks. Thus the major fossilisation process started with a molecule by molecule replacement of organic plant by inorganic materials. In the case of the Petrified forest of Lesvos, the fossilisation was perfect due to favourable fossilisation conditions. Therefore morphological characteristics of the tree trunks such as the annual rings, barkers, as well as the internal structure of the wood, are all preserved in excellent condition.

unknown (ca. 80 x 90 mm)