Noun: petrifaction ,pe-tru'fak-shun
- The process of turning some plant material into stone by infiltration with water carrying mineral particles without changing the original shape
"petrifaction created the stunning fossilized trees in the petrified forest";
- petrification
- A rock created by petrifaction; an organic object infiltrated with mineral matter and preserved in its original form
"The museum displayed a remarkable petrifaction of an ancient tree"
Derived forms: petrifactions
Type of: fossilisation [Brit], fossilization, rock, stone
Encyclopedia: Petrifaction