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Washington State Gem:

Polished petrified wood - click to see all state fossils
Polished petrified wood photo by Daniel Schwen on Wikipedia -
published under terms of the GNU Free Documentation license version 1.2 or later -
see all state fossils

Petrified Wood

Wahington designated petrified wood as the state gem in 1975 (though rock-hard and beautiful, petrified wood is not actually a gem but a fossil). In prehistoric times, the interior of Washington was swampy with trees such as cypress, oak, elm and gingko. Some of these ancient forests were preserved by lava flows and water and over time became fossilized. You can see petrified wood at Gingko Petrified Forest State Park in Vantage, Washington. Petrified wood is also the state stone of Texas, and the state fossil of North Dakota and Louisiana.

Petrified wood in Washington - click to see all state fossils
Petrified wood at Gingko State Park in Washington -
photo by agit-prop on Flickr - noncommercial use permitted
with attribution | no derivative works - see all state fossils

State Gifts - Washington Gifts

Source:
State Symbols: Washington State Legislature
Links:
State Fossils & Dinosaurs - 50 States
Geological Symbols - 50 States List

       

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Great gifts for teachers - travelers - students!
State Symbols USA is a nonprofit organization promoting
appreciation for our natural treasures and cultural heritage.

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WASHINGTON SYMBOLS:

bird - mammal
insect - fish
amphibian
flower - grass
tree - soil
fossil - gem
fruit - vegetable

flag - seal
motto - quarter
name - nickname
dance - tartan
song - folk song
arboretum
ship 1 - 2
 

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Ancient Forests: A Closer Look at Fossil Wood
Ancient Forests:
A Closer Look at Fossil Wood


Petrified Wood: The World of Fossilized Wood, Cones, Ferns, and Cycads by Frank J. Daniels