Microspectrometric investigation of petrified wood from south-eastern Poland

The investigation of the interesting collection of the petrified wood from Bondyrz, Roztocze, south-eastern Poland, has been continued. Two kinds of microprobes such as electron microprobe from the Catholic University of Lublin and synchrotron-based X-ray microprobe from LURE, Orsay, were applied to detect the elements associated with the main component silica and their spatial distribution and interrelations. The distribution of carbon in the petrified material has been established, which is important since that element is the main remains from the history of the trees. The carbon distribution was characteristic - it concentrated on a place of primordial dark wood. The distribution patterns of the other elements were either similar to that of carbon (Cu, Pb) or they concentrated in separate inclusions (Fe, Al, K, Na, Ca). The replicating mode of the original wood pattern in silica and carbon-containing material was explained. Some indications about the composition of the primordial petrifying solution, the rate of the petrifaction process and the recent coloration of the sample could be concluded from the compositional patterns of silica. The boundary between totally and partially petrified zones could be well observed.