silicification
Noun - The process of being converted into or impregnated with silica: "silicification" refers to the geological or chemical process by which silica (silicon dioxide) is deposited into or replaces the original material of an object, such as wood, bone, or rock, often resulting in fossilization or petrification.
- (The wood turned into stone by silica infusion.)
- (The shells became hardened with silica.)
"Complete silicification": a state where all original organic material has been replaced by silica.
- The fossil exhibited complete silicification, leaving no trace of the original bone. (All original matter was replaced by silica.)
"Silicification in hydrothermal systems": the process occurring in hot, mineral-rich water environments.
- Silicification in hydrothermal veins often produces quartz deposits. (Silica deposition in hot water cracks creates quartz.)
Silicate (n): a compound containing silicon and oxygen, often found in rocks.
- Feldspar is a common silicate mineral. (A mineral with silicon and oxygen.)
Siliceous (adj): containing or consisting of silica.
- Diatomaceous earth is a siliceous sedimentary rock. (A rock rich in silica.)
Silicify (verb): to convert into or impregnate with silica.
- The wood began to silicify after being buried in volcanic ash. (The wood started turning into silica.)
- Petrification: the process of turning organic material into stone, often via silicification.
- Mineralization: the general process of depositing minerals (including silica) into organic remains.
(No common idioms exist for "silicification" due to its technical nature.)
(No phrasal verbs are associated with "silicification" as it is a noun.)