Getting ready for QIA show Quartsite
Stromatolites are some of the oldest life on earth. They are not plant or animal life and lived a long time before life as we know it existed. They lived up to 3.5 billion years ago and are responsible for the oxygen that made the rest of life on Earth possible. they were made up of bacteria that used photosynthesis to live.
They used minerals held together by secretions to build up towards the Sun in a water type environment. As time passed they built up layers or cones. The particular type of minerals that they used in different locations in patterns of cones or bands are what is left.
Over time they increased the oxygen in the atmosphere till eventually early primitive plant and sea animal life appeared. The early life fed on the bacteria of the stromatolites and eventually nearly all the stromatolites disappeared. They only lived on in a few spots that were hostile to animal life. There are a few places that they still exist today. A beach in Australia is one place as well as hot springs like in Yellowstone.
The stromatolite fossils that we sell are 1.2 billion years old and are self collected. We were fairly new rock hounds when we found the location of these fossils. We found three different types of the fossils at this location. Depending on exactly where we obtain the particular fossil, the color, form and hardness varies. There are pictures of different types shown here.
Lapidary quality stromatolite fossils are rare as stromatolites tend to occur as just grey looking rock similar to limestone. Our stromatolite fossils have been slightly metamorphosed and they have other colors than grey. They are hard enough to polish nicely. A term used to describe our stromatolites is siliconized marble.
I am 69 and my wife is 62. We like to get out and explore the world around us. Both of us are handicapped. I have a severe back problem and an autoimmune condition called Myasthenia Gravis that robs me of strength upon effort. My wife had a heart attack and could not work anymore. She was an OB nurse for 40 years.
What we do is drive around in a side by side RZR ATV looking for interesting rocks. We carry what is called a treasure scoop which we use to pick up rocks by the side of the road. I can not walk very far or carry heavy weights. My wife can walk further and she carries things for me that are not too heavy
About a year ago while out exploring we found an interesting rock that no one could identify. It was the green striped rock. We decided to go back to the area to see if we could find more. While we were on the way to look over the area I noticed a different looking rock in a wash we had to cross. It was too big to pick up so we broke it up discovering the stromatolite fossil inside. We walked up the wash and found the source of the stromatolite.
Due to the value and rarity of the find we have a legal claim on the site. Also we want to protect the site and preserve the natural environment as much as possible. We do have help now that can do the heavy lifting and carrying.
If we told everyone were it was located it would be messed up by all the people wanting to have some of the stromatolites for them selves and to sell.
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