Jodi Derkach, P.Geo.
Jodi Derkach, P.Geo., is a Senior Manager, Land and Resource with Nutrien Ltd.
My favourite rock is petrified wood. Petrified wood is ancient life crystalized in time. It’s a window to the environment of the past and tells a magnificent story of life on Earth that no human was present to witness.
Petrified wood is a fossil. It forms when plant material is buried by sediment and protected from decay due to oxygen and organisms.
Groundwater rich in dissolved solids flows through the sediment and replaces the original plant material with silica, calcite, pyrite or another inorganic material such as opal. The result is a fossil of the original woody material that often exhibits preserved details of the bark, wood and cellular structures.
The photo accompanying this article was taken in Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan at the end of a long, hot hike several years ago and shows in-situ petrified wood exposed by erosion.
It must be left exactly where it is for others to stumble upon and enjoy. Those who understand its significance will pause and think of a world that once existed on the ground immediately below their feet.
I think that’s part of the beauty of it – it’s the ancient form of present-day life that anyone can recognize and appreciate. The science behind it only enhances its beauty.
I believe, but have not confirmed, that my own collection of petrified wood is from the Cretaceous – a time when dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures roamed the Earth. Truth is, I don’t know much about my collection because I discovered it when I was quite young doing some gardening at my mom’s house.
Under mulch and plants in a forgotten garden at the side of the house was a beautiful collection that I assume belonged to a previous owner. It is now in my own garden buried under a lot a snow. When the snow cover is gone, my kids really enjoy getting (and giving) fossil tours of our rock garden.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention potash as one of my favourite rocks. Potash is an economical mineral commodity that has afforded me a challenging and rewarding career and introduced me to a diversity of brilliant people.
I am passionate about the safe, responsible and sustainable development of our precious resources. My job as Senior Manager of Land and Resource at Nutrien Ltd., is a wonderful opportunity to work with our community, the government and industry experts to support that initiative.
Jodi Derkach found her petrified wood in Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park.