Formed by blue-green algae up to 3.5 billion years ago, Stromatolites are the oldest microfossil.
Stromatolites are fascinating microfossils formed by photosynthesising cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) between 2 and 3.5 billion years ago.
Cyanobacteria are among the oldest forms of life on Earth and formed colonies that built up in a similar way to coral reefs. These colonies have fossilised and become part of sedimentary rock, creating the beautiful patterns seen in stromatolite rock.
Stromatolites are found in a wide variety of environments including locations in Australia, Peru and Russia. They form swirling patterns in the rock, often featuring round and flower-like shapes.
