Stromatolite From Morocco

[Ebo]

Dear all

In occasion of the Sainte Marie aux Mines in Alsace (EASTERN of France) I've acquired a classic stromatolite coming from Morocco. Classic because it is really common to find this kind of algal colonies on fossil market.

The problem is when you ask to have more detailed info, like where does it come from, the age, IF this is a real stromatolite (someone say that these can be non-organic structures...).

Searching on the net you can find many different localities, different ages (span from Precambrian to Cretaceous), opinions, but I can't find nothing of OFFICIAL and scientific description (like papers, university web-sites, PhD. thesis and so on...)

There is someone in this forum that is able to give me more information about this kind of stromatolites?

My apologies if the photo hasn't a very good quality and colors.

Enrico

[Nandomas]

Dear all

In occasion of the Sainte Marie aux Mines in Alsace (EASTERN of France) I've acquired a classic stromatolite coming from Morocco. Classic because it is really common to find this kind of algal colonies on fossil market.

The problem is when you ask to have more detailed info, like where does it come from, the age, IF this is a real stromatolite (someone say that these can be non-organic structures...).

Searching on the net you can find many different localities, different ages (span from Precambrian to Cretaceous), opinions, but I can't find nothing of OFFICIAL and scientific description (like papers, university web-sites, PhD. thesis and so on...)

There is someone in this forum that is able to give me more information about this kind of stromatolites?

My apologies if the photo hasn't a very good quality and colors.

Enrico

Dear Ebo... in my opinion, this is a beautiful desert concretion, not stromatolite

I have one "stromatolite" like that

Edited July 2, 2010 by Fossili Veraci

[jpc]

The bottom side certiainly looks like a stromatolite.

[Ebo]

I'm quite convinced that this can be a stromatolite because is:

- characterized by alternate calcareous and pelitic levels, feature that can be quite normal considering the environmental characteristics where these colonies grows;

- as said by jpc the underside show the typical alternate levels;

- this is not a limestone cave structure due to the presence of sandy material (this must be composed only by CaCO₃)

- I don't think that this is a "desert concrection", the carbonate levels alternated with the sandy material don't match with this kind of environment, and the presence of "gems" in the upper part of the sample as visible in the picture is quite interesting and characteristic of new stromatolites colonies growing on the top of the oldest.

Anyway, also IF this is not a stromatolite (and I'm doubtful about this) where does this sample exactly come from? Age? etc etc

Thank you

Ebo

[larrysolomon]

One eBay describes these as "stromatolites" from the Cretaceous of Merzouga Kherufra Morocco. I don't know if this is correct or an error or just a hoax. We need a scientific description/citation to verify. 

[Raggedy Man]

Here is a post from the forum a little ways back. Should find it interesting.