Fig. 4.9 Early Archaean stromatolite. (a) Planar view of a section of a
dome-shaped stromatolite found in the Pilbara, Western Australia
(Westall 2005) (Copyright: courtesy of University Press of Bordeaux);
(b, c) Fossil microbial mat (tabular stromatolite) dated at 3.3 billion
years (Westall et al. 2006a, 2011b). (d) Fossil structures interpreted as
microorganisms occurring in the tabular stromatolite of figures b and c
(Westall et al. 2006a) (Photographs b, c and d: copyright: courtesy of
the Royal Society)
Fig. 4.8 Modern stromatolite.
Living dome-shaped
stromatolites, observed at low
tide in the Shark Bay lagoon,
Australia (Photograph: courtesy
of Daniele Marchesini)
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