Most of us know a little about the history and extinction of dinosaurs, but not as many people know that dinosaur fossils are still found all over the world. The survival of dinosaur bones lets us know that in order to have survived the 65,000,000 to 230,000,000 year span of time, they would have to be petrified.
Oxygen is what causes decay of animal bones once the animal is deceased. For these dinosaur bones to have been petrified, instead of becoming dust in the wind, scientists conclude they must have been covered after the dinosaur’s death by volcanic ash, lava, or mud and clay produced by floods and landslides on the planet. Once the bones were covered and had no access to oxygen, they were able to fossilize into what we see today.
What is Agatized Bone?
Agatized bone is fossilized dinosaur bone, found in rare forms. When the calcite in dinosaur bones is naturally replaced with silica-type compounds, which you would recognize as jasper, opal, or agate stone, it is considered “agatized bone”. This natural process can occur in circumstances when strata layers in a mountain become flooded with silica-rich ground water. The intrusion of the groundwater eventually causes the calcite in the bones to be replaced with this silica-rich substance.
Hematite, usually formed through iron oxidation, is one of the properties that give the dinosaur bones its various hues.
Depending on the amount of hematite that enters the bone, the colors can be subtle or extremely intense. Red, pink, orange, rust, and yellow are a few of the most common colors caused by hematite intrusion. Pure silica creates a brilliant white bone color, while organic carbon or pyrite, which is most abundant, will produce black bones.
Beautiful purples and blues are produced by manganese dioxide. Water can leach manganese from igneous rock forms. As this water is re-deposited, it turns into manganese dioxide, also responsible for coatings and the coloring of many rocks and crystals.
Because of all the varied natural processes, agatized dinosaur bones contain all the metaphysical properties of the original fossils, but also contain unique properties of their own.
Besides produced by nature in beautiful colors and textures, dinosaur bones are said to have properties of vibrancy and well-being. They are touted to help increase mental and physical energy by the wearer. Dinosaur bone has been used throughout the years to calm irrational fears and to lessen anxiety.
Much of what is naturally produced by the Earth is useful to us in many ways. What we do know is that the processes that gives us the gift of agatized dinosaur bone have created a unique, durable, and beautiful substance from which we can create wearable art.
Hileman Silver Jewelry