Mesquite (likely Honey Mesquite)
Prosopis glandulosa • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Highly irregular and swirled on this end grain burl slice; naturally straight to wavy grain often becomes interlocked around knots and ingrown bark.
Color Description
Medium to dark reddish-brown heartwood with a yellowish-white sapwood edge. High luster when finished; heartwood tends to darken to a deeper brown over time.
Hardness Rating
2,336 lbf (Extremely Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to decay and insects. Extremely stable with very low shrinkage rates.
Common Uses
Live-edge slabs, high-end furniture, flooring, knife scales, woodturning, carving, and high-quality charcoal/smoking wood.
Geographic Origin
Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$15.00 - $30.00 per board foot for high-figured burl slabs.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly cut or recently surfaced green/semi-dry wood; the lack of graying patina and presence of fresh sawdust suggest it is current stock.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; generally considered an invasive or nuisance species in some ranching areas.
Workability
Difficult due to extreme hardness and high silica content which dulls cutters; prone to tearout in figured areas, but glues and turns exceptionally well.
Notable Features
Distinctive sweet aroma; extremely dimensional stability (lowest shrinkage of any US hardwood); common presence of bark inclusions and voids.
Finish Recommendations
Pure oils (tung or linseed) or clear shellac to pop the figure; epoxy resin is frequently used to fill the natural voids and cracks visible in this sample.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of reddish-brown heartwood, pale sapwood, extreme density, and characteristic ring-porous end grain structure with inclusions is diagnostic for Mesquite.