Category：Fossil

Year：Proterozoic (about 1.8 billion years ago)

Size:Length:30 x Width:25 x Height:5 (cm)

Introduction：Stromatolites were generally considered to form from accumulation of detritus or mineral grains that stuck on the mucus secreted by microbes. Depending on the growth patterns and varieties of microbes, alternating coarse grained–fine grained layers or silicate–carbonate layers could develop. Stromatolites occur as flat, conical, domical, columnar or branched forms. The stromatolites in west Australia were formed by cyanobacteria during 3.7 Ga, representing the first evidence of life on Earth. The present stromatolites occur in salt lakes or lagoons where foraging activities are low. Among them, the most renowned is the shark bay stromatolite in west Australia.

Accession Number:0003704