Banded Iron Formation
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Banded Iron Formation (BIF7)
Notes specific to this specimen: A classic specimen from a classic locality. Red jasper alternating with hematite silver banding. One side polished, the other sawn.
SIZE: 2.5″x 4.5″x 3/8″
MINERALS: Jasper & Hematite
AGE: Paleoproterozoic – 2.1 billion years
UNIT: Negaunee Iron Formation
SITE: Ishpeming, Michigan
COLLECTED: 2025
BY: Julie & JonDocumentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$85.00Banded Iron Formation (BIF7)
$85.00 -
Banded Iron Formation (BIF6)
Notes specific to this specimen: A classic specimen from a classic locality. Red jasper alternating with hematite silver banding. One side polished, the other sawn.
SIZE: 2.5″x 5″x 3/8″
MINERALS: Jasper & Hematite
AGE: Paleoproterozoic – 2.1 billion years
UNIT: Negaunee Iron Formation
SITE: Ishpeming, Michigan
COLLECTED: 2025
BY: Julie & JonDocumentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$95.00Banded Iron Formation (BIF6)
$95.00 -
Banded Iron Formation (BIF5)
Notes specific to this specimen: A classic specimen from a classic locality. Red jasper alternating with hematite silver banding. One side polished, the other sawn. Curious red spot inside one of the silver bands.
SIZE: 2″x 4″x 3/8″
MINERALS: Jasper & Hematite
AGE: Paleoproterozoic – 2.1 billion years
UNIT: Negaunee Iron Formation
SITE: Ishpeming, Michigan
COLLECTED: 2025
BY: Julie & JonDocumentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$90.00Banded Iron Formation (BIF5)
$90.00 -
Banded Iron Formation (BIF4)
Notes specific to this specimen: A classic specimen from a classic locality. Red jasper alternating with hematite silver banding. One side polished, the other sawn. Curious red spot inside one of the silver bands.
SIZE: 2″x 4″x 3/8″
MINERALS: Jasper & Hematite
AGE: Paleoproterozoic – 2.1 billion years
UNIT: Negaunee Iron Formation
SITE: Ishpeming, Michigan
COLLECTED: 2025
BY: Julie & JonDocumentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$90.00Banded Iron Formation (BIF4)
$90.00 -
Banded Iron Formation (BIF3)
Notes specific to this specimen: A classic specimen from a classic locality. Red jasper alternating with hematite silver banding. One side polished, with some slight saw marks on narrow end with a lower price as a result Back is sawn face.
SIZE: 2″x 5″x 3/8″
MINERALS: Jasper & Hematite
AGE: Paleoproterozoic – 2.1 billion years
UNIT: Negaunee Iron Formation
SITE: Ishpeming, Michigan
COLLECTED: 2025
BY: Julie & JonDocumentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$95.00Banded Iron Formation (BIF3)
$95.00 -
Banded Iron Formation (BIF2)
Notes specific to this specimen: A classic specimen from a classic locality. Red jasper alternating with hematite silver banding. End cut with face polished and natural rough back.
SIZE: 4″x 2″x 2″
MINERALS: Jasper & Hematite
AGE: Paleoproterozoic – 2.1 billion years
UNIT: Negaunee Iron Formation
SITE: Ishpeming, Michigan
COLLECTED: 2025
BY: Julie & JonDocumentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$80.00Banded Iron Formation (BIF2)
$80.00 -
Banded Iron Formation (BIF1)
Notes specific to this specimen: A classic specimen from a classic locality. Red jasper alternating with hematite silver banding. One side polished, the other sawn.
SIZE: 3″x 5″x 5/8″
MINERALS: Jasper & Hematite
AGE: Paleoproterozoic – 2.1 billion years
UNIT: Negaunee Iron Formation
SITE: Ishpeming, Michigan
COLLECTED: 2025
BY: Julie & JonDocumentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$135.00Banded Iron Formation (BIF1)
$135.00
Since the 1970s we have been collecting and studying the most ancient evidence of life on Earth. As part of that journey, one of our interests is Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) – very ancient sedimentary rocks composed of alternating bands of iron (hematite and magnetite) and jasper. They were formed approximately 2 billion years ago, when Earth’s oceans were rich in dissolved iron, but devoid of oxygen.
The first descriptions of Banded Iron Formations came from nineteenth century studies of iron ranges in northern Michigan and around the Great Lakes. Geologists recognized BIFs as ancient sedimentary deposits of marine origin but because they extended over vast areas, they concluded that BIFs formed by inorganic chemical processes. The alternating bands were thought to be the result of periodic changes in seawater chemistry and/or environmental conditions. By the 1960s, however, scientists began linking BIFs to oxygen produced by early photosynthetic microorganisms, eventually connecting them to what has become known as the Great Oxygenation Event, which was launched by early lifeforms and was in full swing about 2 billion years ago.
As early photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria (think stromatolites) began producing oxygen, it reacted with the dissolved iron in the surrounding water to form iron oxide which then settled on the seafloor in an iron-rich mud. This process occurred cyclically leading to the distinctive banding in all BIFs world-wide. These rocks are some of the most significant sources of iron on Earth’s surface.
The most classic and visually striking example of Banded Iron Formation is at Jasper Knob in the small town of Ishpeming, Michigan. Our BIF specimens are mined close by. The rocks there are part of the Negaunee Iron Formation and have been dated to about 2.1 billion years old. They are an effective and well-preserved window into early Earth environments.