FJD UTAH 1000. Nephi Palm; Nephi, Utah; Tertiary. This old-time Nephi full round is gorgeous, rare, and remarkably perfect, and it has all the best colors one seeks in a Nephi palm specimen. Beautifully patterned and mineralized including a large agatized section. It’s extra thick like they cut them in the old days. Dr. William Tidwell of Brigham Young University and Dr. E. M. V. Nambudiri of Nipissing University co-authored an excellent article about the Nephi location in the Canadian Journal of Botany which was published in 1998. The focus of the article was the petrified palm wood from the Nephi area. The authors noted with some apparent consternation that their analysis of the palm wood from the location was especially “significant because virtually all fossil palm remains at this locality have now been removed by amateur collectors. Thus, because of the lack of opportunity for further collecting, not only is this the first, but may well be the only species of Palmoxylon to be described from this site.” Drs. Tidwell and Nambudiri had twenty-four specimens to use in their analysis. They determined that all twenty-four were of the same species and that this was a previously unknown species of palm which they named Palmoxylon hebberttii. They determined the geologic strata to be the Sage Valley Limestone Member of the Goldens Ranch Formation which they estimate to be no older than Lower Oligocene in age, making the wood approximately 33 million years old. Of course, I cannot say that this is the same species as that analyzed in the article. I can say that this is a world class specimen. The polished face is 27 by 23 cm; 3 cm thick; nine pounds and six ounces. $2500
Utah 10. Henry Mountains, southern drainage. Jurassic; Morrison fm. As rough and tumbled as the rugged desert from which it was rescued, yet the interior is about perfect. Specimen round red and yellow beauty, especially under magnification. No glue or filler. 6 by 4 cm polished face; 55 mm long; six ounces. $85
FJD Utah 1001. Henry Mountains, southern drainage. Jurassic/Morrison. Red ivory. Full round log section with ideal colors for the location. As found – touched neither by saw blade nor polishing wheel. A virgin beauty found back in the day when he with a jeep could fill it with wood. No glue or fillers. All around beauty. 10 by 7 by 6.5 cm or so; one pound and eight ounces. $100
FJD Utah 1002. Case front shelves 18. Yellow Cat. Jurassic; Morrison formation. Small specimen round log section, all natural but for one cut and polished face. Ex- Kladder. Perfect piece, amazing under magnification. No glues or fillers. 47 by 40 mm polished face; 20 mm thick; two ounces. $200
FJD Utah 1003. Henry Mountains, southern drainage. Jurassic, Morrison formation. Small specimen round chunk, cut and polished on one end. Dreamy gold and purple. No glue or filler. 45 by 57 mm; 28 mm thick; five ounces. $100