How Does Underground Water Contribute to the Formation of Petrified Trees?

[Asmaa Mohammad]

My textbook says that formation of petrified trees is a result of a degradation and a sedimentation action of theunderground water, and then it goes on explaining that the underground water replaces the plant material in the tree with silica and other inorganic materials, which I think is a sedimentation action only.
The book doesn't clarify the part of "degradation action" of the undergroundwater to form the petrified trees, and I would appreciate it if someone explained how the formation of petrified trees is considered as a degradation and a sedimentation action of the underground water in the same time?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jim mcnamara]

Hmm. Permineralization is the term most often used for the creation of petrified wood/trees.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permineralization

You can read this and determine how it intersects your textbook's definitions. I do not have your textbook so I cannot comment. Sorry.