Post

JustinG
@justingosses.github.io

Went to a city park in Houston to run and spotted a very large silicified tree fossil placed between two trees on edge of a parking lot like a decorative stone, except there were no other big rocks like it between other trees. Was faced with two possibilities listed below.

0 reposts3 likes

kenbruneau.bsky.social
@kenbruneau.bsky.social

I’m going with someone leaving it there as a result of thinning out and refining their collection. We tend to get rid of specimens that weren’t as great as we thought after we find better material. I know I’ve done it. Never thought to leave anything in a park though. Hermann Park?

JustinG
@justingosses.github.io

1. The city put decorative silicified wood the size of a small boulders between trees around the parking area and Houston has enough geologists that all but this one got stolen.

JustinG
@justingosses.github.io

2. A geologist had to move and didn’t want to (or their spouse didn’t want to) pay for shipping what is basically a small boulder so they left it in a park knowing Houston has enough geologists that someone will spot it and give it a good home.

JustinG
@justingosses.github.io

And to answer the question I know is coming. No, I didn’t take it. I’m only allowed to bring home more petrified wood if it’s big enough to make an end table and this was a little too small for that. It’s still there.