It used to live in the southwestern United States. When it died, minerals replaced the wood fibers inside of it. What is it?

PETRIFIED WOOD?

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The object you are referring to is likely a petrified or fossilized tree. Petrification is a process where organic material, such as wood, is converted into stone-like structures over millions of years. Here is how you can arrive at the answer:

1. Read the description: You are given information that the object used to live in the southwestern United States and that minerals replaced the wood fibers inside when it died.
2. Identify the key characteristics: Focus on the key attributes mentioned in the description, which are the location and the petrification process.
3. Make an educated guess: Based on the provided information, you can deduce that the object in question is likely a petrified tree.
4. Verify the answer: Cross-check the characteristics of petrified trees with the description to confirm if they match. Petrified trees can be found in various locations, including the southwestern United States, and they are formed when the organic material is replaced by minerals, resulting in a stone-like structure.

By following these steps, you can determine that the object in question is most likely a petrified tree.