Stromatolites are structures made up of layers of biochemical and accretionary structures. They are formed
in shallow water when they trap and bind microbial lifeforms in biofilms (microbial mats) particularly
cyanobacteria. They come in a variety of forms and structures, such as conical, stratiform, domal, columnar.
They are extremely common in the Precambrian however they become quite rare as you progress through
the GTS. There are a few stromatolites from Archean that do contain some fossilized microbial life but these
are extremely rare, but become more common in the Proterozoic. There are certain features of
stromatolites that suggest they could be biological in nature all this is not universally agreed on by
scientists. Trying to determine between biological and non-biological is a ongoing topic of discussion and
research.
in shallow water when they trap and bind microbial lifeforms in biofilms (microbial mats) particularly
cyanobacteria. They come in a variety of forms and structures, such as conical, stratiform, domal, columnar.
They are extremely common in the Precambrian however they become quite rare as you progress through
the GTS. There are a few stromatolites from Archean that do contain some fossilized microbial life but these
are extremely rare, but become more common in the Proterozoic. There are certain features of
stromatolites that suggest they could be biological in nature all this is not universally agreed on by
scientists. Trying to determine between biological and non-biological is a ongoing topic of discussion and
research.
