Petrified wood is actually stone that looks exactly like wood. Petrified wood is actually stone that looks exactly like wood. The detail in the stones is amazing-it looks just like wood but is much stronger and heavier. You can even see the tree rings.Petrified wood literally means wood turned into stone.The word petrify comes from the Greek word petro or rock - Petrify means to change organic matter into a stony concretion by encrusting or replacing its original substance with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposits.ou can even see the tree rings. Petrified wood literally means wood turned into stone. The word petrify comes from the Greek word petro or rock - Petrify means to change organic matter into a stony concretion by encrusting or replacing its original substance with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposits.