Shark Bay Stromatolite RSS

fossils, Shark Bay Stromatolite, stromatolite, Western Australian Stromatolite -

Stromatolites stand as silent sentries to our planet’s primordial past. Stromatolites are not only Earth’s oldest of fossils dating back to about 3.5 billion years ago, but they are intriguing to scientists because they are our direct connection to life’s early history.  These intriguing  layered rock-like structures are formed by the growth of layer upon layer of cyanobacteria, a type of photosynthesizing microorganism. The formation process of stromatolites is fascinating. They trap sediment and minerals as they grow in shallow waters, creating layers that, over time, harden into rock. This process can take thousands to millions of years, resulting in the stromatolite structures...

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