Conophyton amantourartensis Stromatolite Fossil Precambrian Ediacaran Morocco

Description

Conophyton amantourartensis Stromatolite Fossil

This is a rare and scientifically significant specimen of Conophyton amantourartensis, a stromatolite fossil from the Upper Tachgagalt Formation, Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco. Dating back to the Late Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran, Precambrian, approximately 635–541 million years ago), this stromatolite represents one of the earliest complex microbial reef-building structures in Earth’s history. Fossils from this period provide a direct window into pre-Cambrian life and the early biological processes that shaped Earth’s ecosystems.

Geological Age and Provenance

The Upper Tachgagalt Formation of Morocco is an internationally recognized fossil-bearing sequence that preserves some of the finest stromatolitic structures known from the Precambrian. Formed in shallow marine conditions during the Ediacaran Period, these limestones and carbonates accumulated at a time when oxygen levels in the oceans were rising and multicellular life was beginning to diversify. Stromatolites like Conophyton flourished in this interval, building layered mounds through the trapping and binding of sediment by cyanobacterial mats.

What Are Stromatolites?

Stromatolites are layered bio-sedimentary structures formed by communities of cyanobacteria and other microorganisms. Over time, these microbial mats trapped fine sediment, creating distinctive laminated domes, cones, and columns. Stromatolites are among the earliest evidence of life on Earth, with examples dating back over 3.5 billion years. By the Ediacaran, stromatolites like Conophyton had reached a high degree of morphological diversity and ecological importance, contributing to carbonate reef development long before corals evolved.

Species Profile – Conophyton amantourartensis

The genus Conophyton is characterised by its conical, columnar stromatolitic growth with clear, concentric lamination. The species Conophyton amantourartensis is noted for its well-defined upward-tapering structures and distinctive layering that reveals periodic microbial mat growth phases. These features make Conophyton specimens both scientifically valuable and visually striking, with their unique patterns providing insight into microbial behaviour and environmental conditions of the Ediacaran seas.

Depositional Environment and Scientific Importance

Conophyton stromatolites formed in shallow, warm marine environments where sunlight, carbonate saturation, and microbial activity combined to create layered, mound-like structures. Their presence in the Upper Tachgagalt Formation highlights the productivity of microbial ecosystems during the Ediacaran Period, an interval that set the stage for the Cambrian Explosion of animal life. Fossils such as this are critical in understanding early Earth’s biosphere, oxygenation events, and the transition from microbial-dominated worlds to ecosystems with more complex life forms.

Authenticity and Preparation

This specimen has been carefully selected for its quality and definition, showing the characteristic conical lamination patterns of Conophyton stromatolites. As with all of our offerings, it has been ethically sourced and professionally prepared to maintain both its structural integrity and visual clarity.

A Rare Collector’s Piece

All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The photos show the actual specimen you will receive, not a stock image, with a 1 cm scale cube provided for accurate sizing. This rare Conophyton amantourartensis fossil is both a scientific treasure and a unique natural display piece, making it a remarkable addition to any collection of Precambrian life, stromatolites, or early microbial fossils.

This Conophyton amantourartensis stromatolite fossil from the Upper Tachgagalt Formation, Ediacaran, Precambrian of Morocco is a rare opportunity to own a tangible piece of deep Earth history, representing some of the earliest complex life structures ever to form on our planet.