Petrified Wood and Peat identified--Rock Box

This video compares two items with similar features: petrified wood and peat (using 360 degree photography). Both wood and peat start as biological materials, however, one becomes petrified as a fossil into rock-like form, but the other remains all organic and is not technically not considered a rock at all.
A rock by definition cannot be all organic in composition. Therefore, petrified wood becomes rock after changes into rock gradually occur. This occurs when the cell structures of wood are gradually replaced by microscopic size minerals like quartz. Often, quartz and other minerals can replace biological structures so well, that the tree rings, bark, and other structures may allow the identification of what the species the tree was.
But before petrification, wood is considered peat. various woody and grassy swamp debris are also are considered peat. The reason peat is included in many sedimentary rock kits is to show that peat can exist for millions of years underground--without being petrified. Peat can be found within rocks that are millions of years old. I have a sample of wood that was taken from sediments that was dated at 14-15 millions years old. However, peat that is so old is not common.
But peat also marks the start of another process in sedimentary rocks. Peat also can transform into coal over time too. There is a progression from peat (which is not defined as a rock), to where pressure and temperature can change the fibrous structures of peat into solid carbon (where it is then considered rock). After peat, various coals progressively form. Peat first changes into lignite coal, then to sub-bituminous coal, to bituminous coal, and to anthracite coal. Please look for other videos on this CZcams channel for more information.
Hello Rock People! This is Dave the Geology Dude! Identification notes for this rock are below in this text. Please be aware that the only way to really learn rock identification, is to have hands-on experience. This is because visual experiences alone do not show properties like hardness, acid reactivity, density, and the range of variables that are common to each rock type. Don't forget that Geology isn't rocket science--it's Rock Science! Please "like" and subscribe to this CZcams channel!
Video timeline:
0:00 Petrified wood features
1:56 Peat features
Music (CZcams Audio Library): Ready for Freddy (by TrackTribe)
Copyright by David Knoblach, 2022. All rights reserved

[@GeologyDude]

Hello Rock People! This is Dave the Geology Dude! There is more to this video than just a spinning rock. There are detailed notes in the description area of this video. If you want more, longer length rock identification videos are on my CZcams homepage. Check them out, or leave a comment here!

[@GlowingOlderandHealthier]

As a rockhounder I found this interesting. Love it when I learn something new!

[@GeologyDude]

Thanks for your comment!

[@EssentialOrigami]

So many fascinating facts! The change in density after fossilisation is very interesting 🙂

[@GeologyDude]

Yes. I guess that petrified wood should qualify as the “hardest” of hard woods (even harder than the super-tough wood in Australia). Ha ha. But since there is essentially no wood remaining in petrified wood, it’s not going to burn well.

[@mafic_taco7061]

@@GeologyDude yeah , I’ll stick with burning madrone 😂

[@GeologyDude]

@@mafic_taco7061 ha ha!