- YM
Sidestep: The Palla Adzes
Palla is a name given to a green silicified tuff found by Julius von Haast near Mt Somers in 1864. The term 'palla' comes from Austria which is why he used the term as he was born in Prussia.
The green colour of the palla is not due to an unusually high iron content but to the presence of this element primarily in the ferrous state rather than as ferric oxide. Palla flakes are a deep green.
The below photos shows the Surrey Hills site and a large worked piece showing natural internal unweathered colours.
Only a small number of adzes were produced with this stone and they are incredible pieces due to their unusual colour and texture. Very few exist although more may yet be found.
And the best example...
