Preview
Description
Not until 1950 do paleontologists begin to find signs of life earlier than the large-sized fossils dated 600 mya. Suspecting that microbial life evolved before animals and plants, thoughtful researchers commence a search.
In South Africa, explorers find the Fig Tree Formation. A rare series of sediments and rock many tens of thousands of feet thick, the Formation contains some units of dense rock called chert, a smooth form of quartz. Although the chert appears barren, a microscopic search reveals signs of the kind of life that helped make stromatolites. Fossilized bacteria, including cyanobacteria, lie peacefully arranged in smooth layers within the rock. Some of the minute microfossils within this Formation constitute precious evidence of early life.
Date Created
1997
Holding Institution
University of Montana--Missoula. Environmental Studies Program
Rights Statement
Rights Holder
© 1997 Stiftung Drittes Millennium
Item Type
Exhibit
Digital File Format
image/jpeg
Media Type
Text; Image
Digital Image Number
19_wtt_file01_1-19.jpg
Recommended Citation
Liebes, Sid; Mittelstadt, Laurie; Waugh, Barbara; and Brynes, Lois, "Panel 19: We've Come A Long Way" (1997). A Walk Through Time - From Stardust To Us. 19.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/awalkthroughtime/19