Ancient microbialites face mounting damage from tourism and collectors
Microbialites are Earth's oldest visible life fossils, yet these ancient structures are surprisingly fragile despite their age.
Microbialites are mounded structures made from ancient microbes preserved in rock. Western Australia contains an extraordinary record of them.
The oldest known examples are almost 3.5 billion years old in the Pilbara. Living ones still exist in the UNESCO World Heritage area of Shark Bay.
A new review of 50 years of research shows these fossils are surprisingly fragile despite their age. Fossil sites face damage from over-collection and degradation.
Living microbialites face growing pressures from climate change, tourism and changing water quality. In May 2024, dozens of aurora chasers trampled 2,000-year-old thrombolites at Lake Clifton.
Western Australia may contain some of the oldest known thrombolites. Yet geoheritage protection lacks enough funding at federal and state levels.
- Almost 3.5 billion years, in Pilbara
- Oldest known age
- Shark Bay, UNESCO World Heritage area
- Living microbialite location
Why it mattersThese ancient fossils offer clues to early life and may hold answers to questions about Earth's evolution that we have not yet thought to ask.
AustraliaWestern Australia's irreplaceable fossil sites face permanent damage without stronger protection and resources for heritage preservation.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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