2.6" Polished Stromatolite (Greysonia) Pebble - Bolivia

There has been a lot of confusion about the age of these stromatolites. Most sources, including some fairly authoritative ones, have listed them as being Paleoproterozoic (Pre-Cambrian) in age, at least about 540 million years ago. Based on further research, we have determined that this is incorrect and they are in fact from the Upper Cretaceous Miraflores Formation of Bolivia and only about 66 millions years old.

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
Greysonia sp.
LOCATION
El Molino, Cerro Huanaquinn, Bolivia
FORMATION
Miraflores Formation
SIZE
2.6" wide
CATEGORY
ITEM
#113509
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