Modern Environmental Science and Engineering (ISSN 2333-2581) October 2016, Volume 2, No. 10, pp. 701-707 Doi: 10.15341/mese(2333-2581)/10.02.2016/008 Academic Star Publishing Company, 2016 www.academicstar.us

Preliminary Research: Feature of Cross Section, Hardness, and Specific Gravity Some Petrified Wood from Loa Janan, Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan

Nani Husien, Agus Sulistyo Budi, and Gandi Laboratory of Information and Woody Biology, Forestry Faculty, Mulawarman University,

Abstract: The aim of this research is to identify some petrified wood discovered in Loa Janan district of Kutai Kertanegara East , for anatomical feature in the cross section, the hardness and the specific gravity as well. It was hypothesized that the petrified woods which were discovered would be endemic hardwood species from East Borneo. Six specimens with different size were taken and grinded with different grit (16 to 60). A binocular microscope was used to observe pattern of pores, rays, including ducts. Digital balance and measuring glass was used to determine the specific gravity, while selector diamond was used to determine hardness. Reference identifying was used to identify the wood species or . Result showed that all specimens were macroscopically identified as Fossil of hardwood, they were characterized by the existence of growth ring, pores, and rays. Most solitary pores grouping filled with mineral deposits were apparent in all of fossil woods. The diversity of color line was probably based on its formed minerals. The hardness of specimens were between 3 to 6 mosh, and were based on the color. The specific gravity of specimens were between 1,715 g/ml to 6,050 g/ml. The Important thing, that based on identification result, the biggest petrified wood which discovered in Loa Janan district of Kutai Kertanegara is most likely species of cf.Leptospermum family Myrsinaceae.

Key words: petrified wood, specific gravity, hardness, eusideroxylonzwageri , cf. Leptospermum

Indonesia came from the to Pliocene that is 25 1. Introduction  million years BP (Before Present) to 2 million years BP Wood fossil is petrified wood where all the organic [2]. Research on the fossil wood is included in the materials have been replaced by minerals (silica and scope of science of paleobotany. Paleobotany is the quartz type), the wooden structure is still maintained. study of plant fossils. Studies in the field of Wood fossilization process starts from the ingress of paleobotany include aspects of plant fossils, water containing minerals into the cells lining the reconstruction taxa, and the history of plant evolution decompose lignin and cellulose so that it becomes a in the world. To understand well about paleobotany, stone. The formation process of wood fossil is similar sciences of geology, anatomy and is required. to the formation of fossils of other materials, which is By studying paleobotany we know the botanical due to be chemically permineralization and physical identity of a fossil (anatomy), determine the age of process through a very long process [1, 2]. Fossil wood fossils (geology), and to reconstruct the history of the has a priceless historical value because it could be a spread and extinction of certain plant taxa living proof of a certain species in prehistoric times. (fitogeografi). Wood fossil has been found in many Some sources reported that fossil wood found in places in Indonesia, West Java (Ciampea, Jasinga, Leuwiliang, Banten, Sukabumi and Tasikmalaya), Corresponding author: Nani Husien, Master of Science, Central Java (Banjarnegara and the border area Engineer, research areas/interests: wood biology, wood anatomy. E-mail: [email protected]. between Sragen and Karanganyar), East Java (Pacitan),

702 Preliminary Research: Feature of Cross Section, Hardness, and Specific Gravity Some Petrified Wood from Loa Janan, Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan

Kalimantan, Jambi, and Flores Island. Lattest internationally. Up to now, petrified wood in Indonesia information also reported many fossils was found in the is still used as a high-value commodity, and if this area of KHDTK Labanan, Berau, East Kalimantan by situation continuous, so the availability of petrified the researchers team from the Research Institute wood could decrease and eventually could extinct. Dipterocarps Samarinda [3]. In addition, it is informed, Andianto et al. (2010) [2], identified the fossil wood that the discovery of fossil wood in traditional house from Kali Cemoro which located on the border of Laitarung Village, Central Sumba was considered as a Sragen and Karanganyar, Central Java. Most of wood cultural keystone species. For other areas there may be fossil found had been petrified but not all part of the found some, but detailed information has not been specimen fossiled. The petrified wood was identified as known. More than three decades ago, wood fossils a species of rengas burung (Gluta wallichii have been excavated but until now it is only used as a Hook.f.DingHou), family Anacardiaceae (Fig. 2). trade commodity, both domestically and

Fig. 1 Some petrified woods ready to be traded in (Samarinda city) East Borneo.

Fig. 2 Petrified wood of rengas burungand its anatomical structure [1].

Dewi et al. (2012) [4] examined the fossil wood The fossil was found in the formation of volcanic from Wae Wuul Nature Reserve, Flores island. The rock at the tertiary period and lived during the middle fossil was identified as the genus of periode of Miocene, about 19 million years BP. The (). The differences in characteristics discovery of Shoreoxylon fossil was surprising because with other fossil Shorea was used to name the fossil, previous record never stated that Shorea has a namely Shoreoxylon floresiensis (Fig. 3). distribution area in Nusa Tenggara and Flores. Whitmore et al. (1989) explained that species of

Preliminary Research: Feature of Cross Section, Hardness, and Specific Gravity Some Petrified Wood 703 from Loa Janan, Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan

Dipterocarpaceae in Nusa Tenggara are tertiary period until the quarter. The volcanic activity is hasseltii and . Shoreoxylon evidenced by its rock formations which are volcanic fossils were previously only found in Sumatra, Borneo, rock formations. Macdonald (1972) states that the and Java Island. This indicates that in ancient times, volcano is an area or openings area where the thick those regions were united to the island of Flores. The rock incandescent or gas, both out from inside earth to extinction of species Shorea today in Nusa Tenggara the surface and then piles the rock material around the probably was caused by the volcanic activity of the hole then forms a hill or mountain.

Fig. 3 Wood Fossils from Floresandtheir anatomical features [3].

Meanwhile the surprising discovery of petrified reason for the author to do this research, because the wood, was the discovery of the longest and the largest species scientifically this largest fossil wood so far has fossil wood that never been found before in Kalimantan, not been studied, besides, in this research, some other namely fossil wood with 28.5 meters in length and 1.40 specimen of petrified wood found adjacent to the meters in diameter, which found in the region Loa largest fossil site were taken to be analyzed. Janan District of Kutai Kertanegara, the size of this 2. Materials and Methods fossil was suppose could be bigger, because not all parts of the fossil are removed from the ground. Specimens were taken from Purwajaya Village, Loa According to its inventor Mr. Gandi (Interview, 2015), Janan, District of Kutai Kartanegara, located at 5th he discovered the largest fossil actually in year 2001, Kilometers between Balikpapan and Samarinda City, because of its extremely size and the tranding topic the location was at the ridge and close from the about “fossil stone” at that time was not yet to be trend, residential areas. Material used was six specimen of so that, this fossil newly exposed in the year 2015. The petrified wood. Two of the materials (Specimens No.1 fossil wood which is discovered in Loa Janan up to and No. 2) were taken from the part of the largest now was not known yet its species, therefore it also the petrified wood (Fig. 4) and also four other specimens

704 Preliminary Research: Feature of Cross Section, Hardness, and Specific Gravity Some Petrified Wood from Loa Janan, Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan were taken from adjacent place. All specimens are in and resin ducts. Diamond selector is also used to irregular form with each dimension as shown in Fig. 5. determine the hardness. Digital balance, becker glass The equipment to polish the petrified wood was hand and measuring glass used to determine the specific grinders with different grits from very coarse (grade 16) gravity. Reference IAWA standard (1989) [5] and to medium (grade 60), a 20x binocular microscope ATLAS of Hardwood (1991) were used to identify the XTD3C was used to observe the pattern of pores, rays species or genus of the specimens.

Fig. 4 The Petrified wood (28.5 m in length, 1.0 m in diameter). Picture was taken in 2001 (left) and in 2015 (right), here showed both side of the fossil supported by steel to avoid cracking.

Fig. 5 Materials with difference size.

2.1 Procedure increased to a finer grain of sander for polishing. Each piece of petrified wood took approximately 10-15 The petrified wood was first cleaned with water, minutes to Polish, the polishing steps were performed then polished using hand sanders with different in the workshop in Samarinda. After polishing, then the coarseness, beginning with the most coarse and

Preliminary Research: Feature of Cross Section, Hardness, and Specific Gravity Some Petrified Wood 705 from Loa Janan, Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan hardness of petrified wood was determined manually and its formation’s era is unknown yet, and it is using a diamond tester at the four different zone on the estimated millions years in age. wood surface. Specific gravity of specimens are also As well as another study of wood fossil anatomy, calculated by placing the specimens in a volumetric sample is taken from the stem which close to the glass and by measuring the water displacement, with canopy, while the other part is difficult to take due to the formula: Specific gravity: Weight of specimen the position which was on the ridge, which makes it devided by Volume of specimen (W/V). Then the type difficult to bring up the cutting equipment. Unlike with of specimens was observed on transverse section by some researches of fossil wood where the position was using loupe and binocular microscope to magnify the buried under the ground [8] or fossil wood near streams wood surface so that it could be identified. The pattern or on the upper of the river [9]. Because of the fossil of the petrified wood was compared to the pictures of sample that could be taken was limited, only two pieces wood in the reference materials [7]. All of the data was of sample (sample No. 1 and No. 2), so that also were noted and photographed (Canon Coolpix D8400, Sony taken four other samples of petrified wood (sample No. DCR RX-65E). 3, 4, 5 and No. 6) which discovered nearby from the first. After cleaning and polishing surface of petrified 3. Result and Discussion wood with hand grinding, then fossil wood samples The main sample is fossilized tree along 28.5 meters taken to the Wood biology laboratory for observation. that is still complete, because part from the root to the 3.1 Anatomical Features stem could be seen clearly and some parts are still under the ground and has not entirely lifted above the Observation result under binocular microscope ground and it is estimated that the part which still (20x), showed that all the specimens which identified buried is part of the tree canopy (crown). Samples were as the fossils of hardwood. Macroscopic features of discovered accidentally in 2001 and just in 2015 began cross section of six specimens clearly can be seen in to be exposed and known by the public (oral Figs. 6-7. information from the explorer). The age of wood fossil

(1) (2) (3) Fig. 6 Cross section of Petrified Wood No. 1, 2, 3 (No. 1 and No. 2 were taken from the largest wood fossil).

(4) (5) (6) Fig. 7 Cross section of Petrified Wood No. 4, 5 and 6 (taken from the place adjacent).

706 Preliminary Research: Feature of Cross Section, Hardness, and Specific Gravity Some Petrified Wood from Loa Janan, Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan

Anatomical observation in this study only on The hardness found between 2.0 to 6 mohs and transversal (cross) section. Both tangential and radial completely can be seen in Table 1. sections were not been yet observed while this research Generally the hardness of petrified wood could be 5 is still in progress. Feature of cross section in specimen to 7 mohs, and most of the minerals have got a higher No. 1 and No. 2 which were taken from the biggest density than water and so they sink in water. The fossils, showed similar to characteristics with species hardness is the possibility to break into a mineral. The Pterospermun sp but not identic with other species as hardness scale is from1 to 10. A mineral with the reported by some Mass Media and Newspaper in East hardness of 1 is a Talc and the hardness of 10 is a Kalimantan over the years. Diamond [1]. The hardness of the wood fossil in this All specimens showed diffuse pores distribution study (2.5 to 6mohs) adjacent with the hardness of with most solitary pores grouping. Rays with thin and Calcite (Carbon’s group) and Feldsfar (Alumina and narrow line, most uniseriate, biseriate and also Silica’s group) and the diversity colours come into multiseriate type. Deposit of transparent mineral or view: white, yellow, red, brown and black. These crystal fragments clearly visible in pores cell, but kinds colours could be constant and can be used predict of the mineral content of the deposit is charged in the component of the mineral. Specimens no 5 for example, pores wood fossil are still unknown. Wood fossil No. 3 had “white spot” (6 mohs) which had the highest showed solitary pores and double with diffuse hardness value than the other color zone, it was arrangement. Rays are uniseriate and biseriate. Some predicted that part of wood that had been deffected and white deposit in pores are clearly visible. Specimens fulfilled with white mineral. No. 4 and No. 5 showed the similarity in their pores 3.3 Specific Gravity (SG) distribution, most solitary pores with medium pores diameter and some in radial arrangement. Rays type are Specific gravity, also known as relative density, is biseriate and multiseriate, species are not yet identified. the ratio between the density of the substance to the Cross section of Specimens No. 6 showed dissimilarity density of a liquid at standard temperature. The specific in pores arrangement but quite similar in pores gravity (SG) of the specimens in this study are showed distribution and most solitary pores grouping. Rays are in Table 2. uniseriate and biseriate. Resin canal in radial Table 1 Weight and hardness of specimens. arrangement is very clearly visible in tangensial Fossil Weigth (g) Hardness (mohs) direction filled by the minerals, it could be from family Specimen No. 1 60.05 3.0 to 4.0 dipterocarpaceae. Specimen No. 2 163.40 3.0 to 5.0 Specimen No. 3 70.51 4.0 to 5.0 3.2 Hardness Specimen No. 4 12.91 2.0 to 2.5 Specimen No. 5 887.03 4.0 to 6.0 Based on same studies, the hardness of fossil is Specimen No. 6 934.20 4.0 to 5.0 determined by the mineral deposits that occupies in the cells and has a different colors depends on the cell Table 2 Weight and specific gravity of specimens. Fossil Weight (g) Specific Gravity (g/ml) types’ minerals. Generally wood fossil hardness up to 7 Specimen No. 1 60.05 6.05 mohs, but in some places the fossil hardness can be Specimen No. 2 163.40 5.45 various even in the same location and the same sample Specimen No. 3 70.51 4.70 [6]. The hardness of petrified wood in this study was Specimen No. 4 12.91 1.71 mannualy measured by diamond selector, and was Specimen No. 5 887.03 2.50 taken at four different zone on the surface of specimens. Specimen No. 6 934.20 3.11

Preliminary Research: Feature of Cross Section, Hardness, and Specific Gravity Some Petrified Wood 707 from Loa Janan, Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan

The wood fossil which were collected from the field could be use to study the prehistory of Kalimantan had a different size and form, the small specimen no.4 Island. is the lightest and specimen no.6 is the heaviest. The References weigth of petrified wood surely based on the material formed [1]. Specimen No. 1 to No. 6 has a weight [1] N. H. Suneson, Petrified wood in Oklahoma, Geologist IV, Oklahoma Geological Survey, University of Oklahoma, between 12.91 g to 934.20 g, and it does not mean that 2010. the sample which has the greatest weight has also the [2] N. Andianto, E. Lelana and A. Ismanto, Identifikasi Fosil highest value. SG of wood fossil strongly influenced by Kayu Dari Kali Cemoro Kabupaten Sragen, Jawa Tengah. its mineral deposits formed. As shown in Table 2 Prosiding Seminar Nasional Biologi Prospektif Biologi dalam Pengelolaan Sumber Hayati. FakultasBiologi UGM, showed that the highest SG is in specimen No. 1 (w Yogyakarta, 2010. 60.05 g and SG 6.05 g/ml), whereas the sample No. 6 [3] L. M. Dewi, Penelitian Fosil Kayu, Status dan Prospeknya which has the highest weight (w 934.20 g) that has only di Indonesia, 2012. 3.11 of SG. Suneson (2010) [1], described although the [4] L. M. Dewi. Yi Mandang and S. Rulliaty, Suprihatna 2012: A New Record of Shoreoxylon (Dipterocarpaceae), size and form of specimen was similar but the weigth Fossil Wood from Flores Island Indonesia. could be different. [5] IAWA, List of microscopic feature for hardwood identification, IAWA Bulletin 10 (1989) (3). 4. Conclusion [6] M. K. Hassan, The fossil wood of East Cairo, Egypt: A mineralogical view, Journal Mineralogia 45 (2015) (1-2): Petrified wood which was discovered in Loa Janan 47-57, doi: 1515/mipo-2015-0003. district of Kutai Kertanegara is a Fossil of Hardwood, [7] IAWA Committee, IAWA List of microscopis features for it is clearly visible with the existing of pores, growth hardwood identification Rijksherbarium. Leiden the increment and rays line in its cross section feature. The Netherlands, 1989, pp. 221-332. [8] J. Sakala, V. Rapprich and Z. Pecskay, Fossil angiosperm hardness were between 2.0-6.0 mohs adjacent with the wood and its host deposits from the periphery of a hardness of Calcite (Carbon’s group) and Feldsfar dominantly effusive ancient volcano (Doupovskehory (Alumina and Silica’s group). The specific gravity of Volcanic Complex, -Lower Miocene, the Czech petrified wood were between 1.71-6.05 g/ml. Based on Republic): Systematics, volcanology, geochronology and taphonomy, Bulletin of Geosciences 85 (2010) (4). anatomical structure, the biggest petrified wood which [9] N. Boonchai, P. J. Grote and P. Jintasakul, Paleontological was discovered in Loa Janan Kutai Kertanegaraas parks and museums and prominent fossil sites in Thailand reported by some newspaper and mass media is most and their importance in the conservation of fossils, 2009. likely species of cf.Leptospermum family Myrsinaceae and according to geologist side, its appearance actually