Collawood has become one of those stones everyone wants to see up close, and once you notice its wild mix of blue, green and wood grain patterns, it is easy to understand why. This rare mineral blend looks like fossil wood that collided with copper rich color, creating pieces that feel both ancient and eye catching. Collectors love it, jewelry makers chase it and no two slices ever look the same. In this guide, let’s dive into what makes Collawood so unique, from its meaning to its properties.
Collawood meaning
Grounding: Collawood may bring a grounded feeling that helps you settle your thoughts in a natural/steady way, and many people turn to it when they want support during moments that require focus. Its earthy patterns, for instance, may create a sense of structure that helps you feel present. In turn, this energy may be helpful when you want to move through your day with a calmer and more anchored mindset.
Emotional balance: It may even support an emotional balance by creating a calmer atmosphere around you, and its softer tones may help you sort through those type of feelings with more ease. Many enjoy its steady presence when they want something that feels comforting without adding pressure. Its subtle energy, for instance, may help you feel more aware of your emotions in a way that feels manageable and steady throughout shifting moments.
Spiritual growth: Collawood may even offer a quiet energy that supports spiritual growth by helping you connect with your inner thoughts in a simple and approachable way. Its natural texture may create a peaceful setting that encourages deeper reflection. Many people appreciate its balanced nature because it may help them explore their spiritual path with more clarity and a sense of calm direction.
Where is Collawood found?
Arizona: Collawood is reported in parts of northern Arizona, especially around the Holbrook and Winslow areas where older sediment layers sit close to the surface. Some collectors mention small pockets near the outskirts of Flagstaff, where eroded zones reveal material with clearer bands. These localities often produce pieces with warm tones and noticeable layered patterns.
Utah: In Utah, Collawood is linked to areas near Price and Helper, where long exposed formations create ideal conditions for this type of patterned material. A few finds have also been mentioned around the Moab region, where the surrounding rock structure forms softer and more blended layers that show up in the stone.
Nevada: Nevada’s material typically comes from areas outside Ely and in the countryside around Tonopah. These regions have scattered mineral activity and weathered rock that results in pieces with darker bands. The tone can shift slightly depending on the exact spot within these rural zones.
New Mexico: New Mexico pieces are most often connected to the land around Farmington and Gallup, where weathered sediment fields produce material with lighter and more subtle layers. Some small finds have also been noted near Socorro, adding variety to the patterns seen in the region.
Australia: Australian Collawood is mainly associated with areas outside Perth in Western Australia, where decorative stone is commonly collected. Some pieces also come from the region around Queensland’s inland mining towns, which produce Collawood with deeper contrast and stronger color separation.
Turkey: Collawood has also been reported in parts of Turkey, mainly in regions known for layered decorative stone. Most references point to areas near Afyonkarahisar, where long-standing quarry activity exposes patterned material with warm tones. Smaller mentions come from the outskirts of Denizli, where natural sediment layers create pieces with softer banding that differs slightly from the material found in the United States and Australia.
What is Collawood?
Collawood is often described as a unique material that blends the look of petrified wood with the presence of copper minerals, creating a stone that stands out for its unusual color shifts and natural patterns. Many people refer to it as colla wood or collawood petrified wood because it carries the character of fossilized wood while showing vivid tones linked to chrysocolla, malachite and azurite. This crystal like material is considered rare, and its blue opalized petrified wood effect adds even more interest for anyone who enjoys working with a natural stone that feels ancient and visually rich.
Some pieces are sold as blue opalized wood or blue opal wood, and each slice shows a different inclusion that adds depth. The best collawood selection often comes from turkish sources, although unique indonesian material appears in the market as well. It is popular with jewelry makers who want a gemstone for jewelry that feels different from turquoise, and it is often shaped into a petrified wood cabochon, natural collawood pendant or even a pendant necklace.
Collectors look for fossil wood forms, while others use it as carving wood or craft material. It remains a mineral specimen that appeals to anyone who appreciates lapidary fossil rock and the rainbow tones found in rainbow petrified wood.
Collawood properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Material type | Fossilized wood impregnated with copper minerals such as chrysocolla, malachite and azurite |
| Category | Lapidary fossil rock and decorative natural stone |
| General composition | Silicified fossil wood with copper rich mineral inclusions and minor iron and other trace elements |
| Typical colors | Bands of blue and green with brown, tan, cream and occasional rainbow style mixed zones |
| Transparency | Opaque, with some thin areas showing slight translucency under strong light |
| Luster | Dull to waxy in rough form, vitreous to glossy when cut and polished |
| Mohs hardness | About 6.5 to 7 for the silicified wood portions, slightly lower where copper minerals are concentrated |
| Fracture | Conchoidal to uneven, with occasional small pits along mineral rich zones |
| Structure | Preserved wood grain patterns, growth rings and cell structure visible in polished slices |
| Specific gravity | Usually in the range of 2.4 to 2.8 depending on mineral content and level of silicification |
