✅ SOLVED Petrified Wood Underwater?

[Bigcypresshunter]

I found this at lo-tide Thursday on one of the Treasure Coast 1715 shipwreck sites rolling in the surf. It looks like wood but is heavy as a rock. ...hard too. Has a large nailhole in the center and another hole on the right side. It also sinks like a rock. What is it? Could this be shipwreck wood? Why is it so heavy and hard?

 

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[bakergeol]

It is heavy because it is part iron sulfide- actually the same composition as pyrite.
Oranosulfur,(thiols), pyrite and iron sulfides are the end result for wood in ancient shipwrecks. Here is a link
It does discuss what was menitioned above about preservation of wood near iron.

http://www.diamond.ac.uk/CMSWeb/Downloads/diamond/Events/SRUserMeeting06/Sandstrom_abstract.pdf

What interest me more- is this some wood from the treasure fleet? How long does the conversion process take to
produce an iron replaced piece of wood? Type of wood?- common to the fleet? Markings on wood consistent with Spanish work?
Where can one get a free carbon 14 test to date the wood.

Sorry, I would go nuts thinking about this things- if I had your sample.

George

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

More than likely way off on this.

It looks like maybe some lava flow that hit a tree and the hole was where there was a branch.

Tony

I have never heard of lava rock in Florida.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It is heavy because it is part iron sulfide- actually the same composition as pyrite.
Oranosulfur,(thiols), pyrite and iron sulfides are the end result for wood in ancient shipwrecks. Here is a link
It does discuss what was menitioned above about preservation of wood near iron.

http://www.diamond.ac.uk/CMSWeb/Downloads/diamond/Events/SRUserMeeting06/Sandstrom_abstract.pdf

What interest me more- is this some wood from the treasure fleet? How long does the conversion process take to
produce an iron replaced piece of wood? Type of wood?- common to the fleet? Markings on wood consistent with Spanish work?
Where can one get a free carbon 14 test to date the wood.

Sorry, I would go nuts thinking about this things- if I had your sample.

George

Thanks George. I think we are right on. I have found other shipwreck wood and lead sheathing at this location but this is the first hard sample. Yes, 1715 Fleet Rio Mar wrecksite location. I will bring it to the museum again and have them take a look at it. . The nail hole is bent which is consistant with shipwreck trauma. The part that does not match is the spike holes appear almost rounded.

I should have searched that spot more thouroughly. We may have another storm coming!

 

[Angelo]

More than likely way off on this.

It looks like maybe some lava flow that hit a tree and the hole was where there was a branch.

Tony

I have never heard of lava rock in Florida.

I was thinking of more like someones home landscaping in the area.

Tony

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

More than likely way off on this.

It looks like maybe some lava flow that hit a tree and the hole was where there was a branch.

Tony

I have never heard of lava rock in Florida.

I was thinking of more like someones home landscaping in the area.

Tony

Ah ok. It doesnt look like lava rock to me. Isnt lava rock light and porous? ...im not sure.

My piece may appear to be porous but they are worm holes I think. The Toledo worm eats wood in the Car ribean.. Ships had big problems with Toledo Worms and resorted to lead sheathing and later copper.

 

[pegleg]

Whatever it is, it looks neat! I'd keep it!!!

 

[mollyk927]

Petrified Wood Underwater (con't)

I took it to the Sebastian museum on Sunday McLarty Treasure Museum National Historical Landmark Site Of The 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet but the curator was not in. Everyone I showed it to was interested and perplexed. I may have a clue. A hammer with wood handle on display at the museum stated that wood will be preserved if next to iron. This may be the answer. It appears to be covered in rust. It may be shipwreck wood preserved by the iron.
It is not as heavy as it dries out but still remains heavy, very hard and with a slight odor. After it dries out completely, I will see if it still sinks in saltwater. I wonder if it needs any preservation?

I realize this is an old thread (but I see you are still an active member, Bigcypresshunter), and I must say I was amazed when I came across it! I found a very similar piece of wood on a barrier island off of the Virginia coast which had me perplexed for years; that is, until now...I believe you have solved the mystery of underwater petrification for me: it's the iron!

Thanks!!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Hello Molly. Sorry I have not been online. Thanks for sending me a PM. If your piece of wood is hard as a rock, then it looks like you have found the same type of shipwreck artifact. Congratulations. I found mine just rolling around at the surfline at a very well know 1715 Rio Mar shipwreck location on the Treasure Coast in Florida. I dont know the value, but I think they are absolutely beautiful artifacts to hold such history in our hands.

If you investigate, you may be able to determine the shipwreck that yours came from. Maybe members here can help you. Did you find it on the beach?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Does yours have a spike in it?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I just wanted to say that I found tons of water logged shipwreck wood at this location after the hurricanes. Some pieces very large. Unfortunately I didnt save much of it and the few pieces I saved have became soft and deteriorated after they dried out. These rusted iron sulfide pieces should last forever.

Quote Originally Posted by bakergeol
It is heavy because it is part iron sulfide- actually the same composition as pyrite.
Oranosulfur,(thiols), pyrite and iron sulfides are the end result for wood in ancient shipwrecks. Here is a link
It does discuss what was menitioned above about preservation of wood near iron.

http://www.diamond.ac.uk/CMSWeb/Down...m_abstract.pdf

What interest me more- is this some wood from the treasure fleet? How long does the conversion process take to
produce an iron replaced piece of wood? Type of wood?- common to the fleet? Markings on wood consistent with Spanish work?
Where can one get a free carbon 14 test to date the wood.

Sorry, I would go nuts thinking about this things- if I had your sample.

George

 

[mollyk927]

Thanks for the reply--hope I didn't seem a nag!
Yes, I found it on the beach, near the water at low tide. I'm no geologist, but I was fairly certain that wood does not petrify underwater. It has always puzzled me. Being so close to Chincoteague and Assateague islands, I've always pretended it came from one of the Spanish galleons that carried the ancestors of the wild ponies we see today.
I don't know for sure, but it looks like there's a spike running through it.
This sort of thing fascinates me, so glad I found this site--I am loving TreasureNet!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks for the reply--hope I didn't seem a nag!
Yes, I found it on the beach, near the water at low tide. I'm no geologist, but I was fairly certain that wood does not petrify underwater. It has always puzzled me. Being so close to Chincoteague and Assateague islands, I've always pretended it came from one of the Spanish galleons that carried the ancestors of the wild ponies we see today.
I don't know for sure, but it looks like there's a spike running through it.
This sort of thing fascinates me, so glad I found this site--I am loving TreasureNet!

You are not being a nag. This is a place to share. Yes it looks like a spike. What a beautiful shipwreck artifact. Do you have a metal detector? Can you check it with a magnet?