What are thrombolites?
Q: What are thrombolites?
A: Thrombolites are ancient types of microbial communities that photosynthesize.
Q: How are thrombolites different from stromatolites?
A: Stromatolites are clearly layered, but thrombolites are not.
Q: How are thrombolites formed?
A: Thrombolites are formed in shallow water by the trapping, holding, and cementing sedimentary grains by microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria.
Q: When were thrombolites common?
A: Thrombolites were common in the Cambrian and early Ordovician.
Q: Are there still examples of thrombolites today?
A: Yes, few examples still exist today.
Q: Are thrombolites and stromatolites the same type of microbial communities?
A: No, thrombolites and stromatolites are not the same type of microbial communities.
Q: What is the structure of thrombolites?
A: Thrombolites are "clotted accretionary structures".
