National Fossil Wood Park, Tiruvakkarai

The National Fossil Wood Park, Tiruvakkarai is a geological park located in the Villupuram District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is maintained by the Geological Survey of India.[1] The park was established in 1940[2] and is located 1 km east of Tiruvakkarai village on the road between Tindivanam and Pondicherry.

Wood Fossils

Map of the region and cross section described by H. F. Blanford in 1858

The park contains petrified wood fossils approximately 20 million years old, scattered throughout the park,[3] which covers about 247 acres (100 ha). The park consists of nine enclaves, but only a small portion of the 247 acres (approx 1 square km) is open to the public.[4] Officials of the GSI believe the fossils were formed during massive flooding that occurred millions of years ago.[5]

The park hosts about 200 fossilized trees. They range in size from 3 to 15 metres (9.8 to 49.2 ft) meters in length, some of which are up to 5 meters in width.[1] They are strewn and partially buried in the park grounds.[3] No branches or leaves remain on the fossilized trunks.[5]

Scientists speculate that the trees did not originally grow at the site, but were transported before they had petrified.[5] M. Sonneret, a European naturalist, gave the first detailed account of the fossils in 1781.[2]

Quality of the fossils

The fossils are well preserved due to extensive petrifaction.[5] The trees' annular rings and pit structures are clearly visible, allowing their age to be determined by counting the rings.[5]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Fossil Wood Park, Tiruvakkarai.

References

  1. 1 2 "Fossil Wood parks". Geological Survey of India. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 Kodinhi, Hussain. "Millions of years ago, there lived a tree". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Lifeless air hovers over Fossil Wood Park". 16 February 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  4. ↑ Prasanna, Srinivasan (17 January 2001). "Forest of Brown". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Yamunan, Shruthisagar (25 September 2010). "A repository of spectacularly preserved fossilized trees". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 June 2013.

Coordinates: 12°1′33.98″N 79°39′5.81″E / 12.0261056°N 79.6516139°E / 12.0261056; 79.6516139

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