Bog Oak

Quercus spp. (often Q. robur)

Deep chocolate to near-black oak transformed by prolonged burial in wet, low-oxygen sediments.

Botanical family: Fagaceae
Average dry density: 675 kg/m³ (≈12% MC)
Janka hardness: 1,120 lbf
Native distribution: European peat deposits; recovered subfossil timber
Grain & texture: Coarse oak structure; often pronounced medullary rays

Benchmarks shown are for Quercus robur, not a measurement of ancient bog-preserved oak.

Original photograph © Mokurei Studio · timber held in the studio collection. Identification supplied by the studio; physical-property values are literature references, not measurements of the pictured piece.

Material character

Its dark colour arises from long-term reactions involving oak tannins and minerals, not a different species.

Notable applications

Fine furniture, watches, decorative inlays and collectible turned objects.

Of particular interest

Bog oak is typically subfossil wood rather than petrified rock.

Workshop note

Age and botanical species cannot be inferred from colour alone; radiocarbon and anatomical testing provide evidence.

WOOD DATABASE / MATERIAL PROPERTIES ↗KEW SCIENCE / TAXONOMY INDEX ↗

Wood identification is provided by the Mokurei Studio collection, not independently laboratory-verified. Technical figures are reference averages, not measurements of the photographed piece; they vary with provenance and moisture.