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Trees fell down, were covered with silt, mud, volcanic ash. Without oxygen, the decay was slowed down. Gradually silica-bearing water seeped in to the wood, replacing the wood tissues with silica deposits. The silica crystallised into quartz, and the logs were preserved as petrified wood. That was about 225 million years ago in the Triassic Period. In the late 1800`s vast amounts were removed for souvenirs, and commercial ventures. This was stopped, and in 1906 was set aside as a National Monument. This included an area called the Painted Desert. |
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