November 12, 2024
Tree turned to metal; a 35 pound copper-mineralized fossil log from the Nacimiento formation in New Mexico, USA.

Video of a tree turned to metal


The 250 million-year process that turned this portion of a tree to metal is still not fully understood by geologists.

We have been studying this phenomena and have a publication awaiting review that goes into more depth on how it may have happened.

In the meantime, enjoy this video of a large piece of a tree turned almost entirely to metal – chalcocite (Cu2S), which is almost 70% copper by weight.  This specimen was expertly trimmed and cleaned with unprecedented artistry.

Note that the log is sitting on a steel swivel, as lifting the 35 pounds to turn it around would be otherwise quite difficult, and maybe impossible to have left a free hand for the camera.  The color is much more vibrant in person, with a lot more depth to the greens and much more blue than comes through in the video.  And, yes, this did have to come off the side of the mountain in a backpack!

Comments

comments

%d bloggers like this: