COMMON NAMES:   Goncalo Alves

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   .75 - .84

DENSITY:  58 lbs./cu.ft.

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   7.6%

RADIAL MOVEMENT:   4%

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:   10%

DURABILITY1:   Very good

SOURCE:  Primarily Brazil, but also from Southern Mexico through Central America into the Amazon basin.

DESCRIPTION:   Goncalo alves is a dense, strong, durable wood that takes a high polish and is used mostly for decorative work, turnings and furniture. Heartwood marked by irregular shades of brown and red. Color and density vary by species and growing conditions. The primary species available is Astronium graveolens.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.