GEM KNOWLEDGE · LABORATORY NOTES
Indonesian Opalized Wood
Material sold as Indonesian Opalized Wood, tested as quartz/chalcedony with bands of pyrite.
Sample 1503 · June 20, 2025
What the testing found
The bulk of the tested material is quartz or chalcedony, with bands of pyrite crystals. Dark streaks may contain very fine pyrite or carbon-rich material. The report found insufficient preserved detail to confirm fossil palm root; its appearance resembled some fossil wood. Opal was not identified in this report. The market name does not by itself establish either opal content or a fossil identification.
Background and locality
Indonesia is the supplied sourcing locality. The analytical report evaluates composition and preserved structure rather than independently confirming geographic origin.
View the original test results
Select a page to enlarge it. All 3 pages are included.
These results are the property of Soul Body Gems, Alexander Falster and the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. Any use or mention requires full acknowledgment of all three.
Understanding the report figures
Use this guide alongside the written findings and the original report transcript. It explains the purpose of each analytical figure and preserves the laboratory’s own figure labels. The interpretations apply to the tested specimen; signals alone do not establish the identity of every similar-looking stone.
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Electron microscope image: This view shows small-scale regions selected for analysis. Its brightness contrast helps distinguish regions with different compositions; it is not a photograph of their natural colors. Numbered spots connect this view to the analyses listed in the report.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig.2: Backscattered electron image of an area of the specimen in Fig. 1.
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 3: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 1 in Fig. 2. (quartz)
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 2 in Fig. 2. (pyrite)
Read the complete report as text
Analytical Result Report
Sample id: 1503 (#3 palm root fossil poss.?)
Submitted by: Soul Body Gems
Date completed: 6-20-2025
Operating conditions: An AMRAY 1830 SEM operated at 25 kV acceleration potential, 24 mm working distance, 0 degrees sample tilt, coated with 250 Å carbon, and also using the attached XRF unit operated at 30 kV.
Fig. 1: Photograph of the specimens. 2 cm maximum dimension. Two close-ups are on the right.
Fig.2: Backscattered electron image of an area of the specimen in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 1 in Fig. 2. (quartz)
Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 2 in Fig. 2. (pyrite)
Summary of findings: This is an interesting specimens (Fig. 1). The bulk of the material is quartz or chalcedony (Figs. 2 and 3) with bands of pyrite crystals (Figs. 2 and 4). The dark streaks are possibly composed of very tiny pyrite inclusions or carbon-rich material. There is not enough detail preserved to make a call if this is fossil palm root. It may be that some specimens from the find gave more evidence to the details of the material but in these specimens, I cannot tell more except that it does appear that the specimen appears similar to some fossil wood that I have seen. The pyrite inclusions add to the appeal of the material.
Date: 6-20-2025 Signature