Petrifaction

Petrifaction occurs when minerals, dissolved in groundwater, replace the individual cell walls of deceased, buried organisms before natural decomposition occurs. Thus, petrifaction is the replacement of an organism with minerals, such as quartz, precipitated from groundwater flowing through the remains of the organism. The most perfect preservations of original structure are found in siliceous (quartz) petrifactions.

More on the saber-tooth cat can be found in the museum....