Red Lake Stromatolite - Oldest in Western Hemisphere

Red Lake Stromatolite – Oldest Stromatolite, Canada

This extraordinary, large hand specimen is called Red Lake stromatolite. It represents the oldest stromatolite currently known in the Western Hemisphere, formed ~2.925 billion years ago in one of Earth’s earliest shallow-marine carbonate platforms. Originally built by microbial mats in warm Archean seas, these carbonates were later metamorphosed, yet still preserve the signature architecture of early life.

Visual and Geological Significance

This specimen displays the striking black-and-white banding characteristic of Ball Assemblage stromatolitic carbonates:

• Dark laminae reflect ancient carbon-rich microbial layers.
• White and gray zones are recrystallized carbonate and cherty replacement from metamorphism.
• Flow-like patterns, truncations, and folded laminae record intense deformation during the Kenoran Orogeny (~2.7 Ga).

Even after deep metamorphic overprint, the biosedimentary fabric remains visible — a direct link to microbial ecosystems that predate the Great Oxidation Event by hundreds of millions of years.

Specimen Details & Provenance

• Geologic Age: Precambrian / Mesoarchean (~2.925 Ga)
• Lithology: Metamorphosed stromatolitic carbonate (calc-silicate marble)
• Locality: Ball Assemblage, Red Lake Greenstone Belt (RLGB)
• Region: Red Lake, Ontario, Canada
• Size: 83 mm L × 80 mm W × 22 mm D
• Weight: 232 g
• What’s Included: Certificate of Authenticity, specimen tag, tag stand, and informational sheet about the Red Lake Stromatolite. Photo cube not included.

Why Collectors Value This Specimen

• Represents the oldest stromatolite in North America / Western Hemisphere.
• Rare and scientifically important Mesoarchean biosedimentary material.
• Exceptional visual contrast, structure, and polish for display or macro photography.
• Ideal for research collections, university teaching sets, or high-end “mini-museum” displays.

Owning this specimen is like holding a piece of Earth’s earliest living surface — a tangible artifact from the dawn of photosynthetic life.

Add One of Earth's Oldest Stromatolites to Your Collection

This Red Lake Stromatolite is a museum-grade geological artifact, beautiful both scientifically and artistically. Whether you are building a Precambrian life collection, focusing on Archean geology, or curating a one-of-a-kind science gift, this specimen offers a rare opportunity to secure a genuine piece of deep time from the Ball Assemblage of the Red Lake Greenstone Belt.

This Red Lake stromatolite is guaranteed authentic. It ships with a Certificate of Authenticity, tag, tag stand, and information about the stromatolite.