GBHarm Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 This is the first post from a new member. This subject has led me to the Fossil Forum many, many times however I have yet to understand precisely how to identify snakewood. I understand some of the basics (growth rings will be present and the rod structures will be packed tightly together), but I am having a difficult time applying what I know to the specimens in my hands. I have attached several photos showing material collected from an exposed area of the Yagua Formation in Burleson County, Texas. I have collected many palm wood specimens in my lifetime, but some of the pieces shown here appear to be a little different. I know that several of these are not palm, and I am quite sure they are not snakewood either, however determining wood species beyond "palm or not palm" is a concept that escapes me and they are included more for reference. Identification of these reference pieces would also help to expand my overall understanding. I would appreciate any assistance that can be provided. The first photo shows an overview of the seven pieces contained in the close-ups that follow. The pieces were wet when the close-ups were taken and the profile of each piece is only shown once. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
GBHarm Posted August 20 Author Share Posted August 20 Sorry, the photos are not shown in the same order as when added to the post. Link to post Share on other sites
hemipristis Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 palm wood, I think Link to post Share on other sites
DPS Ammonite Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 (edited) Not palm wood since palm never has the fine parallel lines found in close ups of photos. See paper about snake wood: Hueber, F.M.; E.M.V. Nambudiri; W.D. Tidwell; E.F. Wheeler (1991). "An Eocene fossil tree with cambial variant wood structure"(PDF). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. 68 (3–4): 257–267. doi:10.1016/0034-6667(91)90027-z. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.627.2829&rep=rep1&type=pdf Edited August 21 by DPS Ammonite 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 I think some of the confusion with palm wood may be the presence of pocket rot. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
MarcoSr Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Some of the pictures look like hardwood. See the below page from Wood Identification for Hardwood and Softwood Species Native to Tennessee. Marco Sr. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
grandpa Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 This might be useful: https://hgms.org/2020-virtual-annual-show/petrified-wood-identification/ 2 Link to post Share on other sites
GBHarm Posted August 21 Author Share Posted August 21 Thanks for that link grandpa. It will definitely come in handy! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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