Red Stromatolite - Close to the oldest fossilized life found on Earth!

Red Stromatolite, showing all the fantastic swirls and details of the ancient algal colony that lived 2 billion years ago or so in the upper midwest United States. This is a fossil specimen of some of the oldest life on Earth. If scientists' models are correct, these little guys were already thriving while the Earth was still being pummeled by asteroids in a "heavy bombardment" period! Portions of this specimen show shiny, sub-metallic hematite replacement of the original structure.

Approx. 55 x 30 x 8 mm, in a hinged plastic perky.