Images Dated 9th June 2009

Petrified wood

Petrified wood. Petrified tree logs from the Late Triassic Period (over 206 million years ago). Petrification is a term used to describe the fossilisation of wood. It occurs when pieces of wood fall into sediments and are rapidly covered, preventing normal decay. Over long periods of time the wood decays. As it decays, the wood is replaced by minerals which are deposited from solution in ground water. This forms an exact replica of the original, preserving the texture of the bark and even the growth rings. Photographed in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA

© BOB GIBBONS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Thomas Schoenfelder (Suzuki) 2009 Superstock TT

2009 Superstock Tt, Suzuki, Thomas Schoenfelder

Rob Barber (Suzuki) 2009 Superstock TT

American Rob Barber (Suzuki) 2009 Superstock TT

2009 Superstock Tt, Rob Barber, Suzuki