Tuesday 7 February 2012

Microbial Limestone

This red laminated rock is microbial algal limestone, which represents the oldest life form in Britain and Ireland. It was produced by microbes which grew in mats over the rock, fixing limestone and then growing over the earlier layers. The red colour is caused by staining from the overlying sandstones.

Date Taken
Tuesday, 20 May, 2008
Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Anne Burgess and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday

12 comments:

  1. Love the texture.

    Come see my RUBIES when you get a chance.

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  2. Re your question about the columns on the Stanford Museum - they are Ionic rather than Corinthian.
    ;-D

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  3. Love the colour and texture! A very interesting process formed this example of Nature's art!

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  4. Interesting, thanks for the info! By the way, a lovely brick red!

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  5. I've always liked limestone - it's the best way to get an inkling of the depth of time.

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  6. We have plenty of limestone here in Yorkshire but I think nothing quite like this. Not I must add that I can claim any knowledge of geology except perhaps of the very basic kind.

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  7. Interesting! Thank's for the info..

    Visiting for RT 2- hope you can stop by:)

    http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/02/caterpillar-stuff-toy.html

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  8. beautiful rock :-) visiting from Ruby Tuesday 2, hope that you can return the visit too.

    http://www.adventurousjessy.com/2012/02/thank-you-mommy-ruby.html

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  9. We have plenty of limestone here in Bohol also. Interesting shot.

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