Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 5, 2011 17:33:11 GMT -5
The ecology of the western coastline of Newfoundland is known as a limestone barren and contains a number of geologically relevant features. One attraction is the thrombolites at Flowers Cove. Thrombolites only occur in a few places on earth. Lake Clifton in Australia is probably the best known other location. At this location, the thrombolites are being weathered out of the softer dolostone bedrock.
Photo 1 – Thrombolites at Flower Cove
Photo 2 - Thrombolites
Thrombolites are one of the oldest and most primitive forms of life on Earth. In fact, thrombolites and stromatolites were the only known forms of life on Earth some 350 to 650 million years ago. Back in the good old days, there was no oxygen (O2) in the Earth’s atmosphere and no protective ozone (O3) layer. This began change when micro-organisms started to appear. Micro-organisms lived in water and produced oxygen (through photosynthesis) which built up the Earth’s atmosphere we depend upon today.
Photo 3 – Thrombolites
Photo 4 - Thrombolites
Thrombolites are rock-like structures built by micro-organisms that deposit thin layers of silt and calcium that slowly grow into rounded rocks. These formations, found along the coastline, were created when micro-organisms in the Iapetus Ocean photosynthesized their energy. The water near the shore contained abundant calcium carbonate from the limestone barrens. During this process they are able to precipitate calcium carbonate from the waters of the lime-enriched lake to form the rock-like structures.
Photo 5 – Thrombolites
Photo 6 – Thrombolites
Thrombolites and stromatolites are similar with the exception that thrombolites have an internally clotted Structure, while stromatolites have an internally layered or laminated structure.
Photo 7 – Thrombolites
Photo 1 – Thrombolites at Flower Cove
Photo 2 - Thrombolites
Thrombolites are one of the oldest and most primitive forms of life on Earth. In fact, thrombolites and stromatolites were the only known forms of life on Earth some 350 to 650 million years ago. Back in the good old days, there was no oxygen (O2) in the Earth’s atmosphere and no protective ozone (O3) layer. This began change when micro-organisms started to appear. Micro-organisms lived in water and produced oxygen (through photosynthesis) which built up the Earth’s atmosphere we depend upon today.
Photo 3 – Thrombolites
Photo 4 - Thrombolites
Thrombolites are rock-like structures built by micro-organisms that deposit thin layers of silt and calcium that slowly grow into rounded rocks. These formations, found along the coastline, were created when micro-organisms in the Iapetus Ocean photosynthesized their energy. The water near the shore contained abundant calcium carbonate from the limestone barrens. During this process they are able to precipitate calcium carbonate from the waters of the lime-enriched lake to form the rock-like structures.
Photo 5 – Thrombolites
Photo 6 – Thrombolites
Thrombolites and stromatolites are similar with the exception that thrombolites have an internally clotted Structure, while stromatolites have an internally layered or laminated structure.
Photo 7 – Thrombolites
