What is petrified wood, and how does wood turn to stone?
https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/What-petrified-wood-how-does-wood-turn-to-stone/102/i18
By Sarah Braner
Petrified wood, fossils millions of years old, form when wood’s biological components are replaced by minerals like silica. This transformation occurs in an oxygen-poor environment, such as when wood is buried under volcanic ash or mudslides, slowing decay and allowing minerals to seep in. Notably, Angela Piller from the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals highlights that petrified wood can often look like regular wood but is much heavier and harder. This process preserves intricate details like bark texture and tree rings. Fascinatingly, lab simulations have also recreated this process, showing its potential for developing advanced materials.