The most expensive wood in the world

The Hidden World of Petrified Wood: Ancient Treasures, Modern Risks

In a remote part of Indonesia, miners like Ellie Su risk their lives every day to unearth petrified wood—fossilized remnants of trees that lived 20 million years ago, long before humans roamed the Earth. These pieces of ancient wood, transformed into stone, hold the potential to reveal secrets about Earth’s distant past. Yet, many of these fossils are turned into furniture, plates, or even ashtrays, often fetching prices abroad that far exceed what the miners earn in a year.

The Science Behind Petrified Wood

For wood to fossilize into petrified form, a rare combination of natural events must occur. When a tree falls into a river or gets buried under wet soil, the lack of oxygen halts decomposition. Over time, water fills the wood’s cavities, and if a volcanic eruption occurs, silica from the ash seeps in, replacing the organic material. Molecule by molecule, the wood transforms into quartz, one of the hardest materials on Earth.

This process creates fossils that preserve the intricate details of the original wood. Miners like Ellie can detect petrified wood underground using iron rods. However, extracting these treasures is a perilous endeavor.

Dangerous Work and Low Pay

Ellie, 68, works barefoot with only a hammer and crowbar. The mines he digs, about 10 feet deep, lack reinforcement or ventilation. Such conditions have proven deadly; in 2016, a nearby mine collapse killed 12 workers. Ellie himself has been injured but continues to mine, as permits required for safer operations are unaffordable for most.

A significant find might include a log weighing as much as four tons—the equivalent of a medium-sized truck. Such a log could sell for around $480. However, after splitting the earnings among co-workers and paying landowners, Ellie’s share is a mere $60 for a month’s work, half the minimum wage in the region. Despite the risks and low pay, Ellie persists, finding mining more reliable than other jobs in the area.

Transforming Fossils into Furniture

Once extracted, slabs of petrified wood are taken to workshops where artisans like 37-year-old Su polish and shape them into stools, plates, and tables. Cutting the fossils requires diamond-tipped blades due to the material’s hardness. Larger items, such as tables, can take up to three weeks to complete, while smaller items like plates are finished in two days.

Middlemen like Kono place custom orders for international clients who are willing to pay twice as much as local buyers. A single table might sell for $3,800. While artisans and middlemen take pride in their work, seeing it as a way to showcase Indonesia’s natural heritage, miners like Ellie rarely share in the profits.

The Scientific Value of Petrified Wood

Halfway across the world, the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona preserves petrified wood that is 200 million years old, dating back to the age of dinosaurs. Paleontologist William Parker explains how these fossils offer invaluable insights into Earth’s history. By examining tree rings, scientists can reconstruct past climates, revealing how environmental changes affected ecosystems. Such research is crucial as the planet faces climate change today.

Removing petrified wood from the park is illegal, yet thefts still occur. Tourists sometimes return stolen pieces after succumbing to guilt. The U.S. government spends $4 million annually to maintain and protect the park, emphasizing the scientific, rather than monetary, value of these ancient relics.

“If we collected all the petrified wood on Earth and put it in stores or private collections, we’d lose its scientific context,” Parker warns.

Global Trade and Heritage

While Indonesia’s petrified wood ends up in high-end furniture stores worldwide, miners like Ellie see little of its true value. For instance, in New York City, petrified wood items sell for $500 to $5,000, depending on size and quality. Buyers like Philip Tuan, who travel to Indonesia to handpick items, marvel at the uniqueness of each piece, noting how its beauty is only revealed once it is cut and polished.

For Ellie and others in his community, petrified wood represents more than a livelihood—it’s a connection to Earth’s history. Yet, for all his years of mining, Ellie owns only a single petrified wood tray.

The Cost of Exploitation

Ellie’s story highlights the stark contrast between the risks faced by miners and the wealth generated from their finds. He left school early to support his family, working as a motorbike taxi driver before turning to mining. Despite the dangers, he continues to dig, driven by the hope of a better future.

Petrified wood is more than just a material for luxurious furniture—it is a treasure trove of scientific knowledge and a testament to Earth’s ancient past. However, without efforts to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for miners, the human cost of this trade will remain a glaring injustice.