Home > Science Fact Finder > Metals and Other Materials - How Is Petrified Wood Formed?

1. Printable Version
2. Download PDF
3. Cite this Page

How is petrified wood formed?

Petrified wood is the remains, preserved in rock, of prehistoric trees. It is formed over thousands of years, as mineral-rich water seeps through the wood of a tree. The minerals in the water, such as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and silica salts, either replace or enclose the tree's organic (living) matter and eventually harden into stone, in a process called petrification. Botanists (scientists who specialize in the study of plants) find these types of fossils to be very important since they allow for the study of the internal structure of extinct plants.

There are some instances in which the petrification of a tree is so complete that even the cellular structure of the tree is preserved. The best examples of this can be found in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

Source: Tidwell, William D. Common Fossil Plants of Western North America, p....

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass

1. Metals
   1. Which metallic element is the most abundant?
   2. What are the noble metals?
   3. What are the precious metals?
   4. Where were the first successful ironworks in the United States?
   5. What is a tiger's eye?
   6. Which countries have uranium deposits?
   7. What is sterling silver?
   8. How does the emerald get its color?
   9. What are the chief gold-producing countries?
   10. What is 24 karat gold?
   11. Is white gold really gold?
2. Rocks, Minerals, And Other Natural Materials
   1. How does a rock differ from a mineral?
   2. What is fool's gold?
   3. What are the different categories of rocks?
   4. What is petrology and what does a petrologist do?
   5. How are fossils formed?
   6. What is a geode?
   7. How is petrified wood formed?
   8. How old are fossils?
   9. Are there any diamond mines in the United States?
   10. How can a genuine diamond be identified?
   11. Which diamond is the world's largest?
   12. How much wood is used to make a ton of paper?
   13. Does any type of wood sink in water?
   14. Which woods are used for telephone poles?
   15. Why are essential oils called "essential"?
   16. Where does a luffa sponge come from?
   17. What is diatomite?
3. Manufactured Materials
   1. When was plastic first invented?
   2. Who invented thermopane glass?
   3. Who developed fiberglass?
   4. How is bulletproof glass made?
   5. What is buckminsterfullerene?
   6. Why is sulfuric acid important?
   7. How is dry ice made?
   8. What material is used to make a tuning fork?
   9. How is sandpaper made?
   10. What is solder?
   11. What is creosote?
   12. What is slag?
   13. Why is titanium dioxide the most widely used white pigment?