STROMATOLITE

RWA3006
Cave Dweller

Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,625

STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 18:04:36 GMT -5 RickB, Pat, and 7 more like this

Quote

Post by RWA3006 on Jul 2, 2024 18:04:36 GMT -5

I think it's time to make a stromatolite thread. I've found a few specimens and there might be others who have insights and photos to share, so let's see what you've got and tell us what you know about the subject!

Last Edit: Jul 3, 2024 12:32:57 GMT -5 by RWA3006

If we were able to carry the love and tolerance shown here into the world as a whole and get anyone to follow the example set, who knows what could be born from that?
Stonemon
RIP

RWA3006 Cave Dweller Member since March 2009 Posts: 4,625	STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 18:06:24 GMT -5 RickB, amygdule, and 12 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by RWA3006 on Jul 2, 2024 18:06:24 GMT -5 Here's my buddy Craig with the largest we've ever found.
	If we were able to carry the love and tolerance shown here into the world as a whole and get anyone to follow the example set, who knows what could be born from that? Stonemon RIP

vegasjames no longer being taken for granite Member since June 2013 Posts: 9,564 Member is Online	STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 19:28:16 GMT -5 RWA3006, Pat, and 11 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vegasjames on Jul 2, 2024 19:28:16 GMT -5 One of my stromatolites from Southern Nevada.

rockjunquie Global Moderator Member since March 2012 Posts: 34,968	STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 19:41:01 GMT -5 RWA3006, RickB, and 15 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockjunquie on Jul 2, 2024 19:41:01 GMT -5 Mary Ellen "Jasper" Stromatolite from MN.

cabby
fully equipped rock polisher

Wishing rocks weren’t so heavy…

Member since June 2024
Posts: 1,015

STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 19:46:54 GMT -5 RWA3006, 1dave, and 1 more like this

Quote

Post by cabby on Jul 2, 2024 19:46:54 GMT -5

Jul 2, 2024 19:41:01 GMT -5 rockjunquie said:

Mary Ellen "Jasper" Stromatolite from MN.

I’m waiting to find a good one to cab! Only found tiny pieces in my yard so far. I KNOW they are around, just haven’t dug them up yet 😆

gemfeller Cave Dweller Member since June 2011 Posts: 4,059	STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 20:15:40 GMT -5 RWA3006, RickB, and 14 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by gemfeller on Jul 2, 2024 20:15:40 GMT -5 Here's a "glamour" shot of another Mary Ellen cab. Beautiful stuff but it usually turns out pretty dark in images. The lighting on this cab perked it up.

RWA3006
Cave Dweller

Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,625

STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 20:30:14 GMT -5 Pat, rockjunquie, and 2 more like this

Quote

Post by RWA3006 on Jul 2, 2024 20:30:14 GMT -5

Jul 2, 2024 20:15:40 GMT -5 gemfeller said:

Here's a "glamour" shot of another Mary Ellen cab. Beautiful stuff but it usually turns out pretty dark in images. The lighting on this cab perked it up.

That's amazingly beautiful. I didn't know Mary Ellen is stromatolite. I guess they come in many sizes and configurations.

If we were able to carry the love and tolerance shown here into the world as a whole and get anyone to follow the example set, who knows what could be born from that?
Stonemon
RIP

gemfeller
Cave Dweller

Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059

STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 20:55:59 GMT -5 RWA3006, RickB, and 8 more like this

Quote

Post by gemfeller on Jul 2, 2024 20:55:59 GMT -5

Jul 2, 2024 20:30:14 GMT -5 RWA3006 said:

Jul 2, 2024 20:15:40 GMT -5 gemfeller said:

Here's a "glamour" shot of another Mary Ellen cab. Beautiful stuff but it usually turns out pretty dark in images. The lighting on this cab perked it up.

That's amazingly beautiful. I didn't know Mary Ellen is stromatolite. I guess they come in many sizes and configurations.

Here's a "purdeyer" image from the Smithsonian:
photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/mary-ellen-jasper-stromatolite/

RWA3006
Cave Dweller

Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,625

STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 22:26:44 GMT -5 gemfeller, Pat, and 3 more like this

Quote

Post by RWA3006 on Jul 2, 2024 22:26:44 GMT -5

Jul 2, 2024 20:55:59 GMT -5 gemfeller said:

Jul 2, 2024 20:30:14 GMT -5 RWA3006 said:

That's amazingly beautiful. I didn't know Mary Ellen is stromatolite. I guess they come in many sizes and configurations.

Here's a "purdeyer" image from the Smithsonian:
photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/mary-ellen-jasper-stromatolite/

Rick, that is absolutely stunning. Thanks.

If we were able to carry the love and tolerance shown here into the world as a whole and get anyone to follow the example set, who knows what could be born from that?
Stonemon
RIP

cabby
fully equipped rock polisher

Wishing rocks weren’t so heavy…

Member since June 2024
Posts: 1,015

STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 22:32:37 GMT -5 RWA3006, 1dave, and 2 more like this

Quote

Post by cabby on Jul 2, 2024 22:32:37 GMT -5

Mary Ellen is one of my favorite stones! Can come in so many different patterns and colors, too, except only certain patterns get the name (even if same minerals and strom but dif pattern). I was heartbroken when I cut open a rock that I was SO sure is a mary Ellen but didn’t have the right pattern inside.

Pat
misunderstood rock expert

Member since February 2012
Posts: 11,828

STROMATOLITE Jul 2, 2024 22:41:36 GMT -5 via mobile RWA3006, gemfeller, and 6 more like this

Quote

Post by Pat on Jul 2, 2024 22:41:36 GMT -5

Jul 2, 2024 22:26:44 GMT -5 RWA3006 said:

Jul 2, 2024 20:55:59 GMT -5 gemfeller said:

Here's a "purdeyer" image from the Smithsonian:
photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/mary-ellen-jasper-stromatolite/

Rick, that is absolutely stunning. Thanks.

That beauty looks like shades of Van Gogh. Thanks.

Pat

ThomasT has rocks in the head Member since June 2022 Posts: 616	STROMATOLITE Jul 3, 2024 8:43:55 GMT -5 RWA3006, jamesp, and 2 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by ThomasT on Jul 3, 2024 8:43:55 GMT -5 We have ancient Stromatolite fossils in a few locations in Tennessee.

ThomasT has rocks in the head Member since June 2022 Posts: 616	STROMATOLITE Jul 3, 2024 10:00:34 GMT -5 RWA3006, jamesp, and 3 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by ThomasT on Jul 3, 2024 10:00:34 GMT -5 I believe the fossilized stromatolites are abundant in the form of nodules of chert both embedded in the ancient limestone and in some areas of the degraded limestone clay here.

RWA3006
Cave Dweller

Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,625

STROMATOLITE Jul 3, 2024 12:31:42 GMT -5 rockjunquie, 1dave, and 3 more like this

Quote

Post by RWA3006 on Jul 3, 2024 12:31:42 GMT -5

Jul 3, 2024 10:00:34 GMT -5 ThomasT said:

I believe the fossilized stromatolites are abundant in the form of nodules of chert both embedded in the ancient limestone and in some areas of the degraded limestone clay here.

I'm learning that they come in quite a variety of shapes, sizes and degrees of silicification. It can be hard to recognize one when it's in front of you and it looks like another rabbit hole I'm getting into.

If we were able to carry the love and tolerance shown here into the world as a whole and get anyone to follow the example set, who knows what could be born from that?
Stonemon
RIP

amygdule no longer being taken for granite Member since April 2012 Posts: 7,623	STROMATOLITE Jul 3, 2024 18:59:42 GMT -5 RWA3006, victor1941, and 14 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by amygdule on Jul 3, 2024 18:59:42 GMT -5 Some Old Stock from an Old Estate. This was a melon sized rock that I had cut into a 3.75" sphere. I was told it was Stromatolite.

rockjunquie Global Moderator Member since March 2012 Posts: 34,968	STROMATOLITE Jul 3, 2024 19:05:16 GMT -5 RWA3006, amygdule, and 2 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockjunquie on Jul 3, 2024 19:05:16 GMT -5 Very nice!!

RWA3006 Cave Dweller Member since March 2009 Posts: 4,625	STROMATOLITE Jul 9, 2024 13:02:28 GMT -5 gemfeller, rockjunquie, and 8 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by RWA3006 on Jul 9, 2024 13:02:28 GMT -5 Here's the remnants of a stromatolite where you can see layers of chalcedony or common opal, plus the missing core was replaced with orange crystals.
	If we were able to carry the love and tolerance shown here into the world as a whole and get anyone to follow the example set, who knows what could be born from that? Stonemon RIP

Starguy driving up their electric bill Member since January 2014 Posts: 2,580	STROMATOLITE Jul 9, 2024 14:07:04 GMT -5 RWA3006, gemfeller, and 9 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Starguy on Jul 9, 2024 14:07:04 GMT -5 I’ve been looking at this rock for years wondering what it is. The only thing I can come up with is stromatolite. I have no idea where it’s from. What do you folks think?
	Brent

ThomasT has rocks in the head Member since June 2022 Posts: 616	STROMATOLITE Jul 9, 2024 14:11:51 GMT -5 RWA3006, 1dave, and 3 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by ThomasT on Jul 9, 2024 14:11:51 GMT -5 Yes, ancient algae or cyanobacterial mats that bubbled up on ancient sea floors and silicified.
	Last Edit: Jul 9, 2024 15:27:35 GMT -5 by ThomasT

tribeunited driving up their electric bill Not all materials look exactly the same. But all exact materials are exactly the same. Member since May 2024 Posts: 2,014	STROMATOLITE Jul 9, 2024 14:22:04 GMT -5 RWA3006 and 1dave like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by tribeunited on Jul 9, 2024 14:22:04 GMT -5 ThomasT - Is that what makes a stromolite? I have found things labeled stromolite, I thought it was another variety of jasper or agate.