This is a really nice example of Peanut Wood Jasper. It took an exceptional polish, and the wood components are clearly visible.
Peanut wood is a variety of petrified wood that is usually dark brown to black in color. It is recognized by its white-to-cream-color markings that are ovoid in shape and about the size of a peanut. It is a fossil gem with a very unusual history.
Much of the peanut wood being sold today began its life as a conifer tree on land in the area now known as Western Australia. When these trees died, rivers carried them into a shallow, salty epicontinental sea that covered much of what is now the Australian continent.
This sample is good for those interested in collecting the many forms of Agate, Jasper, or sometimes other minerals, or for those interested in pendant jewelry.