The Pinnacles and Stromatolites

We are leaving Perth and heading to Shark Bay to see the dolphins at Monkey Mia. We stopped to see the Pinnacles on the way at Cervantes and stromatolites at Lake Thetis.

Geologists believe the pinnacles were formed underground around 500,000 years ago during the Iceage. Evidence suggests they were exposed around 6000 years ago. How they were made is still unknown.

One theory suggests a petrified forest, the calcified remains of tree trunks from an ancient forest. They were sculptured by sand, wind, rain and sun.

I’ve noticed small fossilised pieces on the pits of the pinnacles similar to a tube worm, or thin tree roots.

These small egg shaped rust brown coloured nodules are some pinnacles; I think they are fossilised pupa cases. You can see the hole where the adult insect emerged. I have a similar fossil, a bit longer, which we bought from the Dinosaur Museum.

Jacob copying off the way Dad posed for the picture.

I really enjoyed doing the Pinnacles walk.

Lake Thetis stromatolites are a living microbial community which are about 3500 years old.

These rock like domes are stromatolites built by different types of cynobacteria.

This was my first experience of seeing stromatolites. I really enjoyed them as they were very interesting.