What is "petrifaction"

Petrifaction \Pet`ri*fac"tion\, n. [See Petrify.]

1. The process of petrifying, or changing into stone; conversion of any organic matter (animal or vegetable) into stone, or a substance of stony hardness.

2. The state or condition of being petrified.

3. That which is petrified; popularly, a body incrusted with stony matter; an incrustation.

4. Fig.: Hardness; callousness; obduracy. ``Petrifaction of the soul.''
   --Cudworth.

early 15c., "action or process of hardening," from petrify on model of satisfaction, etc.

n. the condition of being petrified

1. n. the process of turning some plant material into stone by infiltration with water carrying mineral particles without changing the original shape [syn: petrification]

2. a rock created by petrifaction; an organic object infiltrated with mineral matter and preserved in its original form

In geology, petrifaction or petrification is the process by which organic material is converted into a fossil through the replacement of the original material and the filling of the original pore spaces with minerals. Petrified wood is a common result of this process, but all organisms, from bacteria to vertebrates, can be petrified (although harder, more durable matter such as bone, beaks, and shells survive the process better than softer remains such as muscle tissue, feathers, or skin). Petrification takes place through a combination of two similar processes: permineralization and replacement. These processes create replicas of the original specimen that are similar down to the microscopic level, and require a minimum of about 10,000 years to take place.

• Petrifaction is the replacement of organic matter by minerals in fossilization.
• For the architectural usage see Classical architecture#Petrification
• Petrifaction in mythology and fiction discusses the fictional usage of the concept