A silicified wood fossil is found in Lanni village in the Baishanzu National Park area, Lishui. [Photo/lsnews.com.cn]

Scientists are recently continuing to analyze a silicified wood fossil that was found in October in Lanni village in the Baishanzu National Park area – located in Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province.

After experts conducted initial study and research, the silicified wood was estimated to be at least 144 million years old – making it the oldest fossil of silicified wood found in Zhejiang so far.

Research shows that the silicified wood was originally from the fir family. About 144 million years ago, due to active volcanic activities, massive volcanic material buried the tree underground. In an oxygen-deprived environment, the organic matter in the tree was gradually replaced by mineral-rich volcanic material, yet the structure of the tree has not changed – which is how a silicified wood fossil is formed.

The silicified wood's fine structures, such as tree rings and cell profiles, preserve information about the ancient ecological system and the environment. It is said to be of great scientific value for the study of tree species, as well as the climatic environment and the geographic environment in Zhejiang during that period.

This was the second time that silicified wood has been found in Lanni village. As early as 1975, a silicified wood specimen was found.

However, due to the limited technical resources at that time, no in-depth investigation was carried out before its subsequent burial for protection.