stromatolite

noun

stro·mat·o·lite strō-ˈma-tə-ˌlīt

: a laminated usually mounded sedimentary fossil formed from layers of cyanobacteria, calcium carbonate, and trapped sediment

stromatolitic

strō-ˌma-tə-ˈli-tik

adjective

Examples of stromatolite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Microbial stromatolites represent the earliest geological record of life on Earth, which dominated the planet for almost 3 billion years. Stromatolites, in general, refer to a range of microbial communities that are associated with layers of rock. —

David Bressan, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Early stromatolites likely controlled Earth’s oxygenation. —

David Bressan, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 At the time, most researchers thought the key to figuring out whether a stromatolite-like pattern had been shaped by primitive microbes or geologic forces was to scrutinize a sample micrometer by micrometer. —

Charlie Wood, Popular Science, 8 Mar. 2021 Their complexity suggests that life was in existence long before these first stromatolite fossils grew. —

Tim Flannery, The New York Review of Books, 17 Nov. 2020 See all Example Sentences for stromatolite

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stromatolite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.