Featured in this lot are three pieces of Blue Forest petrified wood from the Blue Forest in Eden Valley, Wyoming. Wyoming is a state rich in fossil wood and has several petrified forests. The petrified wood from one forest is known to collectors as Eden Valley Petrified Wood and is named after the town of Eden, Wyoming. The fossil wood found in this area is known for the light blue agate surrounding many of the pieces. The rock known as Eden Valley Petrified Wood was created by plants that were alive around 50 million years ago, and it has characteristics not seen in any other fossilized wood in the world. Shallow "algae growing" lakes were engaged in the petrification process in this region. For unknown circumstances, the wood frequently ended itself in this water in its live state before it had a chance to dry up and take on the appearance of old dead wood. This wood developed a layer of algae that stuck to the surface and formed a mold or cast around it. Afterwards, the wood dried and contracted in the algae-based mold. Over time these algae casts became part of a layered rock formation. Silica-rich water solutions seeping through the rock then petrified the wood and filled in the spaces left between the dried wood and the hardened cast with agate, calcite, and quartz. Unusually accurate images of the wood have been preserved because the petrification process appears to have been "protected" by the development of the algae cast. Beautiful images of both live and dry bark have been preserved. The pieces show very detailed bark throughout and areas of rich blue agate, calcite and quartz formations. Truly some very amazing formations. The largest piece measures 6 3/4" in length and 2 5/8" in diameter, the second largest measures 3 1/2" L x 2" W x 4 3/4" H, while the smallest measures 2" in diameter and 2 7/8" in height.