Limited Availability: This bracelet features a special, one-time run of stromatolite beads.

Above: Artist's conception of life during the Hadean Eon when life first began to develop.

The struggle of life on our dynamic planet is a tale of boom and bust reflected by countless cycles of life in the geological record. We generally think of large, fossilized bones as the best evidence of ancient life, but even microscopic bacteria have left an indelible mark in the form of laminated sediments we call stromatolites.

Above: Modern Stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia.

Stromatolites first appeared in the fossil during the Archean Eon, 3 billion years ago. Cyanobacteria living in shallow pools of water formed large colonies, taking in light and carbon dioxide and producing mucus and calcium carbonate. Each layer of the microbial mat built upon the last, forming an intricate laminate structure, growing into fascinating patterns of limestone that would stand through the ages as evidence of the lives of the microscopic organisms.

Above: Early Life Bracelet featured on a large banded iron slab from Australia.

Designed here at Mini Museum, the bead at the center of this bracelet is a Stromatolite fossil from Peru. Formed during the Silurian Period (roughly 440,000,000 years ago), the microbial colonies of the time lived in shallow lagoons and pools on the paleocontinent of Gondwana, which included the modern-day continents of South America, Antarctica, Africa, Australia, and India. 

Above: Two Early Life Bracelets showcasing the dynamic colors of Red Tiger Iron set against the chocolatey swirls of the Stromatolite centerpiece bead and brushed Hematite companion beads.

Flanking the Stromatolite bead are two beads of Red Tiger Iron set against brushed Hematite beads. Tiger Iron is the name given to a composite mineral made up of layers of quartz fibers, dark hematite, and bright red jasper. This gives it a uniquely layered look of warm colors. This stone is also evidence of early life, like the banded iron deposits of the Great Oxygenation Event featured in the Fourth Edition of the Mini Museum.

Above: Jamie models the Early Life Bracelet with a lava rock stack. Where is his rough ruby bracelet?!

As pictured, the Stromatolite bead is 14mm in diameter and the companion beads are 10mm. Because this bracelet features larger beads we've made two different sizes: 7" (~17.5cm) and 8" (~20cm) circumference. The bracelets are constructed with sturdy but flexible black cord so they'll stretch a bit further.

Please Note: The Stromatolite beads are all rather uniform in color, but the Red Tiger Iron beads vary widely in color and texture. They are all beautiful and unique. In addition, it should be noted that the hematite beads are iron oxide which may give off a small amount of red iron residue when rubbed together. This is 100% natural.

Above: The back of the specimen card.