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Per-mineralisation replaces cell structures with silica and quartz minerals step by step. The figure is taken from USGS, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

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Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

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Petrification turns organic wood into stone over millennia

Per-mineralisation replaces cell structures with silica and quartz minerals step by step

Petrification occurs when plant material is buried under sediment devoid of oxygen, preventing decay. Mineral-rich groundwater flowing through the sediment deposits silica, calcite, or pyrite into original cellular spaces. As original organic matter decays away, mineral crystals replicate the exact cellular architecture in solid stone.

Where this comes from

USGS

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Earth inner core stays solid despite temperatures of five thousand degreesEnormous gravitational pressure prevents molten iron from melting into liquid at the core Tectonic plates move at speeds comparable to fingernail growthLithospheric plates drift across Earth mantle at rates of one to ten centimetres annually Heat from Earth core drives slow mantle convection currentsThermal convection of semi-solid rock beneath the crust drives planetary drift Dripping mineral water builds stalactites and stalagmites in cavesPrecipitated calcium carbonate forms hanging icicle structures and floor mounds Dissolving bedrock creates sinkholes and underground drainage systemsChemical weathering of soluble rocks shapes distinctive karst landscapes Sharks are older than treesSharks have been around for roughly 450 million years, well before the first trees.

Tags: earth science, fossils, geology

Petrification turns organic wood into stone over millennia: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Per-mineralisation replaces cell structures with silica and quartz minerals step by step. The figure is taken from USGS, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a science fact?: Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.