The New International Encyclopædia/Petrifaction

2201332The New International Encyclopædia — Petrifaction

PETRIFACTION (from Lat. petra, from Gk. πέτρα, rock + facere, to make). A name given to organic remains found in the strata of the earth, because they are generally more or less mineralized or made into stone. The word has fallen into disuse, having given place to the term fossil (q.v.).