12.7" Polished, Asperia Stromatolite Section (23 lbs) - Australia

This is a large, polished section of columnar stromatolites (Asperia ashburtonia) from the 2 billion year old, Duck Creek Dolomite in Western Australia. The polished face measures 12.7 x 8.8" wide and the entire piece weighs 23 lbs. The back and sides are in a natural state, but the columnar structure of the stromatolite fossils can easily be seen. The base is cut flat, creating a very impressive display piece.

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
Asperia ashburtonia
LOCATION
Paraburdoo, Western Australia
FORMATION
Duck Creek Dolomite
SIZE
12.7" tall, 8.8" wide, 3.5" deep, 23 lbs
CATEGORY
ITEM
#64792
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