Stromatolites. Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, Shark Bay, Western Australia.

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Stromatolites These are mineralised microbal communities formed from blue green algae also called cyanobacteria Over the last 4000 years algae growing in this area have trapped detritus and sediment forming large living rafts known as microbal mats The secretion of calcium carbonate by the algae has caused the mats the mineralise forming the rock like structures seen here the stromatolites are known as living fossils because the process of mat formation and mineralisation continues today Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve Shark Bay Western Australia

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Size: 3558px × 5273px
Location: Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve Shark Bay Western Australia
Photo credit: © Georgette Apol / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: algae, australia, bay, blue, calcium, carbonate, communities, cyanobacteria, fossil, green, hamelin, living, marine, mats, microbal, mineralisation, mineralise, mineralised, natural, nature, ocean, pool, reserve, sea, secretion, shark, stromatolite, water, western