How did the trees in the petrified forest turn to stone?

The trees in the Petrified Forest turned to stone through a process called permineralization. When the trees fell or were buried by sediment, minerals from groundwater infiltrated the organic material, replacing the wood's cellular structure over time. This process preserved the trees' original shape and details while transforming them into fossilized stone. Over millions of years, this resulted in the stunning petrified wood seen today.