The Mineralogical Society of Southern California

Jim is an avid collector of petrified wood. Along with his spouse, Beth Myers, he also operates a small Internet business selling petrified wood and plant fossils to collectors and museums around the world. His presentation will be on the topic “HOW DOES WOOD BECOME SILICIFIED.” If you have ever wondered how wood can turn to stone, this lecture will provide the answers. Topics covered will include where the minerals come from, how they get to the wood, how the minerals enter a wood cell, types of geologic strata most likely to yield petrified wood to rockhounds, and the origins of color in fossil wood. 

Jim Mills grew up in Southern California right around the corner from the North Hollywood Gem and Mineral shop and began collecting rocks and minerals at the age of 9 years. So much time was spent hanging out at the shop that the proprietor started giving him odd jobs to do. Of course, the payment was in rocks and minerals! He graduated from UCLA Earth and Planetary Sciences Department in 1965 and joined the US Air Force as an Intelligence Officer very soon after graduation. 

In a second career Jim worked for the National Park Service. It was a good match – the first national parks were related to interesting geology, fumaroles and hot springs at Yellowstone and the glacial features at Yosemite. In fact, a very early National Monument was Petrified Forest set aside by Teddy Roosevelt in 1908 – 8 years prior to legislation that established the National Park Service to administer the nation’s treasures. 

He has authored several papers related to geology and fossil wood localities. A complete list can be seen at https://www.millsgeological.com/about-us.html