Opal after Wood
specimen number:
1052645
location:
Megyaszo, Szerencs, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen Co., Hungary
description: The village of Megyaszo, located in the Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen county of northeastern Hungary, is a world-class locality for exceptionally preserved opalized wood found within the southern foothills of the Zemplen Mountains. Geologically, the deposit is associated with Miocene-age volcanic activity, specifically the deposition of thick layers of rhyolite tuff and volcaniclastic sediments approximately 12 to 15 million years ago. During this period, silica-rich hydrothermal fluids and groundwater permeated buried forests, gradually replacing the organic cellular structure of the wood with opal-CT and chalcedony through the process of permineralization. Historically, the extraction of these specimens has been carried out through small-scale quarrying and surface prospecting in the surrounding hills and ravines. While the area was primarily known for agricultural and viticultural land use, the scientific and commercial collection of opalized wood at Megyaszo became prominent during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with numerous museum-quality pieces being recovered during this time.
Classic example from Hungary with opal replacing previous petrified wood. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video. The original acquisition date of the piece was 1907. One face has been polished.
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