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National Park Service, US Dept of the InteriorThe US Government has gained control of over 26,000 acres of private land through an $8 million purchase of the Paulsell Ranch that sat within the boundaries of the Petrified National Forest in Arizona. The land contains rainbow-colored petrified wood and early reptile fossils dating from the Triassic Period (200 - 250 million years ago).
National Park Service, US Dept of the InteriorThis park is famous for its fossil trees and logs from trees related to the Chile Pine - Araucarioxylon arizonicum, Araucarioxylon woodworthia and Araucarioxylon schilderia. All 3 species are now extinct.
The "rainbow" colouring is caused by dissolved silica and iron rich minerals from volcanic ash replacing the cell walls in the wood and crystallizing.
