Comparative identification and analysis amongst suspected gold Phoebe sp. buried wood
Buried wood samples of gold “Phoebe sp.” (Samples #1, #2 and #3) were identified based on their microstructures and on the comparison of their characteristics with relevant specimen types. The result showed all the samples belong to the family Lauraceae. Samples #1 and #3 of the Machilus Nees were identified as Phoebe sheareri and P. zhennan, respectively, they are also known as “Nanmu”. Meanwhile #2 was also referred to as Machilus Nees, but named as “Nanmu with black bark”. Significant differences in anatomical characteristics were determined amongst the three samples; thus, they could not be classified as gold Phoebe sp. Moreover, the practical densities of the samples showed no marked increase relative to the species in literature. Microscopy also exhibited no rare mineral enrichment in the cell lumen or the intercellular space. Results of this study indicated that the three samples do not belong to the category of buried wood or ebony.