XVII.—Notice respecting a Piece of Recent Wood partly petrified by Carbonate of Lime, with some Remarks on Fossil Woods.

Abstract

Through the kindness of Mr. Heuland I have lately received a collection of fossil woods from Germany, that gentleman having very obligingly engaged one of his correspondents to attend to the particular inquiries I wished to make, and to collect for me the objects described. To this collection was added a specimen of recent wood in which some portions have become petrified by carbonate of lime; and although this is not the first known instance of the occurrence of wood partly petrified by calcareous spar, yet it has, from its peculiarity, led to comparisons with some other fossil woods of remarkable appearance, both calcareous and siliceous, and for which it appears to have afforded some explanation. I am induced to submit to the Geological Society the following observations respecting it, in the hope, that by exciting attention and remark from other observers, we may obtain some knowledge on the very difficult question of the process of petrification. This piece of wood is of the common beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), and was found by M. Cotta of Tharand in an ancient Roman aqueduct at Eilsen in the principality of Lippe Buckeberg, but I understand that he has not published any account of it. The size of the portion in my possession, is about 3½ inches by 4½, and the thickness is nearly one inch. For the better understanding of the description, the accompanying drawing has been made of the specimen (Plate XVI. fig. 1). The wood is, for the most part, in