I think that the whole point of petrified wood is that there isn't organic material there anymore. Minerals like quartz take the place of the organic matter. So it's possible for scientists to study shape and texture but not the matter itself. (Like a fossil 'ghost' or not so written record)

The wood has to be isolated from the external environment so it doesn't decay too quickly, like in a boggy area or underground. The groundwater or mud has to be rich in the right minerals. The minerals essentially get stuck and accumulate in the place of the decaying organic materials of the tree as the water seeps in.
Source(s):
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Petrified_wood#encyclopedia

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