It was raining when we entered the Petrified Forest National
Park in Arizona. The Painted Desert is a
part of this park. We were a bit
discouraged that the day was foggy and drizzly and were sure we were not to see
it in the best light. But, when we stopped
in the Visitor Center and spoke with a knowledgeable employee, he surprised us
with the news that we were there on the best day. He explained that the multi-hued layers of
Navaho sandstone, mudstone, siltstone and claystone, which had absorbed the moisture from
the rain, would enhance its color.
He was right. While
at the Painted Desert Inn, the fog began to lift and the Painted Desert began
reveal itself in vivid relief.
 |
| Painted Desert Inn |
 |
| Painted Desert, Arizona |
 |
| 1934 Survey Bench Mark |
Another special point of interest in this park is the Blue Mesa where we enjoyed more spectacular views from several overlooks.
Petrified wood can be seen at Crystal Forest and Giant Logs Trail.
 |
| Petrified Wood |
Petrified wood, like many rocks and stones, is comprised
primarily of the mineral quartz. Quartz
or silicon dioxide, as it is called by chemists, is formed of molecules of two
atoms of the element oxygen and one atom of the element silicon. Although quartz is colorless in its purest
form, petrified wood usually is not because it contains small amounts of other
elements which produce a variety of colors.
When the Colorado land plate shifted upwards, it raised the
elevation of this area and caused it to change from rain forest to an arid. This shift in climate caused the forest to
petrify.
For those of you who wish for a scientific explanation of petrification, the
following is from Wikipedia:
Petrified wood; literally "wood turned into stone"
is the name given to a special type of fossilized remains of terrestrial
vegetation. It is the result of a tree or tree-like plants having completely transitioned
to stone by the process of permineralization. All the organic materials have
been replaced with minerals (mostly a silicate, such as quartz), while
retaining the original structure of the stem tissue. Unlike other types of
fossils which are typically impressions or compressions, petrified wood is a
three-dimensional representation of the original organic material. The
petrifaction process occurs underground, when wood becomes buried under
sediment or volcanic ash and is initially preserved due to a lack of oxygen
which inhibits aerobic decomposition. Mineral-laden water flowing through the
covering material deposits minerals in the plant's cells; as the plant's lignin
and cellulose decay, a stone mold forms in its place. The organic matter needs to
become petrified before it decomposes completely. A forest where such material
has petrified becomes known as a petrified forest.
 |
| Polished Petrified Wood in the Petrified Forest Museum |
 |
| Another gem in the Petrified Forest. |
New Route 66 Exhibit and Pull-Out Along Petrified Forest National Park Road
Petrified Forest, AZ – "A new paved pull-out has been developed along the park road within Petrified Forest National Park,” stated Superintendent Lee Baiza. This new pull-out showcases a section of the old Route 66 trace that passes through the park. From the vantage point that the pull-out offers, visitors can view the roadbed and a line of historic telephone poles. The roadbed and telephone poles mark the path of the famous “Main Street of America” as it passed through Petrified Forest National Park. From Chicago to Los Angeles, this heavily traveled highway was not only a road. It stood as a symbol of opportunity, adventure, and discovery. Petrified Forest National Park is the only National Park that contains a section of the old highway.In addition to the new pull-out, a 1932 Studebaker exhibit has been installed adjacent to the newly developed area. The car was donated to the National Park Service by Frank and Rhonda Dobell, owners of Arizona Automotive Service in Holbrook, Arizona.
