5.4" Polished, Paleoproterozoic Stromatolite (Pilbaria) - Australia

This is a cut/polished slab of a Paleoproterozoic stromatolite (Pilbaria perplexa) from the Duck Creek Dolomite, which isn't far from the iron ore mining town of Paraburdoo in Western Australia. They are believed to have grown in a shallow marine lagoon environment, with rare periods of emergence.

This specimen comes with an acrylic display stand.

Stromatolites are the layered trace fossils of microbial life, primarily cyanobacteria. Some of them date back an astounding 3.4 billion years, making them the oldest record of life on Earth! Stromatolites and Microbialites were typically formed in shallow water by the growth of layer upon layer of cyanobacteria, a single-celled, photosynthesizing microbe. These layers often form very beautiful and colorful banded structures in the rock.

These oxygen-producing cyanobacteria were so simple they lacked a DNA-packaging nucleus, but were responsible for possibly the largest changes the earth has undergone. They were the only major source of atmospheric oxygen critical for the development of more complex life.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Pilbaria perplexa
LOCATION
Paraburdoo, Australia
FORMATION
Duck Creek Dolomite
SIZE
5.4 x 3.9", .35" thick.
CATEGORY
ITEM
#65497
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