Stromatolites
Stromatolites
$590
Out of stock
Specifications
- Found:
- Minnesota, USA
- Genus:
- Collenia
- Specimen size:
- 18*13,5*0,8 cm (7.09*5.31*0.31")
- Age:
- 2,2-2,4 bln years
- Specimen weight:
- 391 g (13.79 oz)
- Period:
- Siderian
Description
This stone plate is a 2.2 to 2.4 billion year old stromatolite fragment. Stromatolites are not living creatures, but structures created by microbial assemblages, bacterial mats. The carbonate secretions of microorganisms are layered on top of each other forming a mineral "cake". Bacterial mats are the oldest ecosystems in Earth's history; they appeared 3.5 billion years ago and they still exist today. Today, one of the places where you can see the stromatolites created as a result of bacterial mats is Shark Bay in Western Australia.
