Petrified Wood Slab 19

Petrified wood is a fossilized form of wood that has been transformed into a crystal material over millions of years through a process called permineralization. During this process, organic material such as wood is replaced by minerals such as silica, resulting in a stone-like material that retains the original structure and shape of the wood.
 
Petrified wood can become red due to the presence of iron oxide, also known as rust. When trees are buried under sediment and volcanic ash, groundwater can seep through the layers and bring minerals like iron oxide into the wood's cells. Over time, the wood can become petrified or turned into stone, while the iron oxide remains, giving the wood a red or rusty color. The exact shade of red can vary depending on the concentration of iron oxide present, as well as other factors such as the type of wood and the geological conditions present during the petrification process.