Petrified wood is a fossil. It forms when plant material is buried by sediment and protected from decay due to oxygen and organisms. Then, groundwater rich in dissolved solids flows through the sediment, replacing the original plant material with silica, calcite, pyrite, or another inorganic material such as opal.
The result is a fossil of the original woody material that often exhibits preserved details of the bark, wood, and cellular structures.
Petrified Wood is a symbol of the power of time. Petrified Wood has been around for millions of years, and it is a reminder that nothing in this world is permanent. Just like the wood has been turned to stone over time, so too can our own lives be transformed by the power of time.
Petrified Wood can also remind us of the beauty and power of nature.
