Images of stromatolites for Earth's Early Biosphere lab (Hover over images to see a caption and click on images to enlarge)
Sample 1: Microbial laminite (stratiform stromatolite), Gamohaan Formation, South Africa, 2.5 billion years old. Sample composed of black chert, some gray carbonate. Voids are where carbonates weathered out.
Sample 2: Microbial laminite (stratiform stromatolite), Gamohaan Formation, South Africa, 2.5 billion years old. Sample composed of carbonate. Bent and distorted layers indicate flexibility of mat layers in life.
Sample 3: Microbial laminite (stratiform stromatolite), Fortescue Group, Australia, 2.7 billion years old. Sample composed of carbonate. Note the wavy lamina.
Sample 4: Domal Stromatolite, Gamohaan Formation, South Africa, 2.5 billion years old. Composed of carbonate.
Sample 5a: Domal stromatolites (small), Gamohaan Formation, South Africa, 2.5 billion years old. Sample composed of black chert. Voids are where carbonates weathered out.
Sample 5b: Domal stromatolites (small), Gamohaan Formation, South Africa, 2.5 billion years old. Sample composed of black chert. Voids are where carbonates weathered out.
Sample 6: Columnar stromatolite, Gamohaan Formation, South Africa, 2.5 billion years old. Sample composed of carbonate.
Sample 7: Domal stromatolite, Rossport Formation, Ontario, Canada, 1.4 billion years old. Composed of chert and carbonate
Sample 8: Conical stromatolite, Duck Creek Formation, Western Australia, 1.8 billion years old. Composed of chert and carbonate
