Fossil Forest - Southland Museum & Art Gallery - Invercargill, New Zealand
Posted by: 
BruceS
S 46° 24.346 E 168° 21.229
59G E 296606 N 4857464
Petrified wood display in front of the Southland Museum & Art Gallery in Invercargill, New Zealand.
Waymark Code: WMG6GY
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 01/20/2013
Views: 9
Text of sign:
A Fossil Forest
This exhibit of petrified wood was collected in teh Haldane/Otara district of south-eastern Southland and gifted to the Invercargill City Council by Mr. Arthur W. Ericson of Haldane.
The trees grew in the Jurassic period about 160 million years ago. The stumps still in position of growth were preserved under layers of volcanic ash and shallow marine sediments.
In the course of deep burial over many millions of years, silica and other rock-forming minerals replaced the wood, without destroying its original structure. At Curio Bay and neighbouring areas, erosion has exhumed the stumps down to the ancient forest floor and to so exposed the fossil forest as it existed in Jurassic time.
Visit Instructions:At least one good photo you have personally obtained and a brief story of your visit. Any additions or corrections to the information about the Waymark (for instance, have the hours open to the public changed) will be greatly appreciated.