Damon Mcknight
Stromatolites are considered 'living fossils', offering a glimpse into the evolutionary history of life on Earth. In Australia, these ancient formations can be found in Hamelin Pool, located in Shark Bay, Western Australia. This site is of significant scientific interest as it contains the oldest and largest living fossils in the world, dating back approximately 3.5 billion years. The clear, shallow waters and boardwalk at Hamelin Pool make it an ideal location to observe these ancient structures, providing a unique perspective on the origins of life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, Western Australia |
| Distance from Perth | 800 kilometres north |
| Age | 3.45-3.7 billion years old |
| Height | Up to a metre high |
| Growth rate | 0.3-1mm per year |
| Surroundings | Clear, shallow water; hypersaline water (twice the salinity of normal seawater) |
| Accessibility | Boardwalk, purpose-built jetty, scenic flights |
| Nearby | Lake Clifton near Mandurah; Lake Thetis near Cervantes; Lake Richmond near Rockingham |
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What You'll Learn
Stromatolites are found in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay
The stromatolites in Hamelin Pool were formed by cyanobacteria, one of the first living creatures on Earth. Cyanobacteria produce a sticky gel that traps sediments and sand, gradually building up layers to form flat algal mats or hardens to form stromatolites. The hypersaline water in Hamelin Pool, twice as salty as normal seawater, allows the cyanobacteria to thrive. The pool's northern boundary is restricted by sand and seagrass banks, which make the water extremely salty and create an environment that is very hot and exposed. These conditions deter most plants and animals, giving the pool's microbial communities a competitive advantage.
The stromatolites in Hamelin Pool were first discovered in 1956 by oil surveyors, who found active bacteria in the pool's waters. Since then, living stromatolites have been found in a handful of other places worldwide, but Hamelin Pool remains the most significant site, with the largest collection of active stromatolites. The site is of great scientific interest to botanists and geologists, as it provides insights into the Earth's evolutionary history and the origins of life.
Visitors can view the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool from a purpose-built jetty, quarry, or scenic flights. A boardwalk was previously available for up-close viewing, but it is currently closed. An aquarium in the nearby Historic Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station houses the only living stromatolite in captivity globally. Hamelin Pool is located about 800 kilometres north of Perth and can be accessed by car or tour group.
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They are considered the oldest living fossils
Stromatolites are considered the oldest living fossils, dating back to when the Earth was in its infancy. They are living fossils and the oldest living life forms on the planet. Stromatolites are layered, biochemical, accretionary structures formed in shallow water by the trapping, binding, and cementation of sedimentary grains in biofilms. They are built by colonies of microscopic photosynthesising organisms called cyanobacteria, which were among the first living creatures on Earth.
Stromatolites are major constituents of the fossil record of the first forms of life on Earth. They peaked about 1.25 billion years ago and subsequently declined in abundance and diversity. They are thought to have fallen victim to grazing creatures, and the most widely supported explanation is that protozoa such as foraminifera were responsible for the decline, favouring the formation of thrombolites over stromatolites through microscopic bioturbation.
Stromatolites played a crucial role in increasing the oxygen content of the Earth's atmosphere to about 20%, setting the stage for the evolution of complex life forms. This process, known as the Great Oxygenation Event, involved stromatolites using water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to create their food and release oxygen as a byproduct.
In modern times, living stromatolites are rare and are found in only a few salty lagoons or bays worldwide. Western Australia is internationally significant for its variety of stromatolite sites, both living and fossilised. Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay, about 800 kilometres north of Perth, is home to the most diverse and abundant examples of living stromatolites globally. These structures are slowly growing microbial colonies, gradually building up layers of sediment and sand through the action of cyanobacteria.
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Stromatolites are formed by cyanobacteria
Stromatolites are layered sedimentary formations created by photosynthetic microorganisms, mainly cyanobacteria. They are found in present-day Western Australia, specifically in the hypersaline waters of Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay. This unique environment, shielded from the ocean by seagrass, provides ideal conditions for the growth of stromatolites, with its hypersalinity discouraging competition from other plants and animals.
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green bacteria or blue-green algae, are photosynthetic prokaryotes that played a pivotal role in Earth's history. Through their photosynthetic activity, cyanobacteria increased the oxygen levels in the Earth's atmosphere, transforming it into one that could support complex life forms. This process, known as the Great Oxygenation Event, was instrumental in priming the environment for the evolutionary development of more complex organisms.
Stromatolites are formed when cyanobacteria produce adhesive compounds that bind sand and other rocky materials, creating mineral "microbial mats." These mats gradually build up layer by layer, resulting in the characteristic lamination of stromatolites. The vertical growth of stromatolites is necessary to ensure continued infiltration of sunlight for photosynthesis.
The formation of stromatolites is a slow process, with a single 1-metre structure potentially taking 2,000 to 3,000 years to form. Despite their ancient origins, stromatolites are still found in modern ecosystems, providing a glimpse into the earliest life forms on Earth. The stromatolites in Hamelin Pool are estimated to be similar to organisms that existed 3.5 billion years ago, making them invaluable to our understanding of Earth's ecological history.
The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) has recognised the significance of stromatolites and developed a scheme called "stromatolite biostratigraphy" to correlate and date ancient rocks. This has elevated Western Australia's standing in the geological application of these fossils, further emphasising the importance of protecting these living fossils for future generations.
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They are diverse and complex ecosystems
Stromatolites are found in diverse and complex ecosystems across Australia, showcasing the country's rich geological history and providing valuable insights into ancient life forms and environmental conditions. These ecosystems vary significantly, from the remote and arid regions of Western Australia to the coastal areas along the continent's southern and eastern shores.
One of the most well-known locations for stromatolites in Australia is
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Stromatolites are used to correlate the age of rocks
Stromatolites are layered sedimentary formations created by photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, which was among the first life forms on Earth. They are the oldest fossils on Earth, dating back to more than three billion years ago. They were the dominant life form for over 2 billion years and played a crucial role in oxygenating the atmosphere.
In Western Australia, stromatolites are used to correlate the age of rocks. The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) has developed a technique called 'stromatolite biostratigraphy' to date ancient rocks that are otherwise difficult to date. This has made Western Australia a global leader in the geological application of stromatolites.
Stromatolites are found in many parts of Western Australia, particularly in the Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve in Shark Bay. Hamelin Pool is home to the most diverse and abundant examples of living stromatolites globally, with hypersaline water that is twice as salty as normal seawater. The high salinity, extreme temperatures, and exposure in Hamelin Pool create ideal conditions for stromatolites to thrive as most plants and animals cannot survive in such conditions.
The microbial communities in Hamelin Pool form microbial mats, which trap sediment and sand, gradually building up layers to form stromatolites. This process occurs very slowly, with a single 1-metre structure potentially taking 2,000 to 3,000 years to form.
By studying the fossilised stromatolites and their characteristic lamination, geologists can use stromatolite biostratigraphy to correlate the age of rocks across vast distances in Western Australia. This technique is particularly useful for dating rocks that cannot be dated using other methods such as radiometric geochronology.
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Frequently asked questions
Stromatolites are found in Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay, Western Australia.
Stromatolites are considered 'living fossils', providing a record of local environmental changes. They are formed by cyanobacteria, which are among the earliest life forms on Earth.
Stromatolites are stony mounds formed by the accumulation of sediment trapped in the sticky mucosal secretions of cyanobacteria, which are then cemented with calcium carbonate.
The stromatolites in Hamelin Pool are around 3.5 billion years old.
Visitors can view the stromatolites from a boardwalk, a purpose-built jetty, or from above on a scenic flight.
