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The first part of the description of the Petrified condition says (PHB, p. 291; emphasis mine):

  • A petrified creature is transformed, along with any nonmagical object it is wearing or carrying, into a solid inanimate substance (usually stone). [...]

But what happens to magical objects worn or carried by a character when it is petrified?

As a DM, I'd rule that any such magical objects are not petrified, and remain somewhat intact (inside the stone backpack, magical sword in scabbard, potion still magical in a probably non-magical glass, etc.). This fits my style, but is there somewhere something resembling an official ruling? I could not find anything about it.

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Magic items are unaffected by petrification

Your interpretation is correct. The rules do what they say they do. There are no secret rules. The rules say that nonmagical items are turned to stone. The rules don't say that anything happens to magical items when a character is petrified, so nothing happens to magical items.

If the rules had wanted all items to turn into stone, they would have simply said "any object" and omitted "nonmagical". If the rules had wanted something special to happen to magical items when petrified, they would have said so. The specific exclusion of magic items from the effects of petrification indicates that magic items are unaffected by petrification.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ this is important to as it prevents a loophole to destroy high level magic items and artifacts. also means you might find "statues" with intact magic items on them \$\endgroup\$
    – John
    Jun 7, 2020 at 18:02

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