Search Here

The dropping water levels in the Great Salt Lake of Utah unveiled a new discovery lying at the bottom of the lake. "It's rocks that are alive," biologist Bonnie Baxter told the Spectrum. Also, known as microbialites or bioherms are formed from the bacteria in shallow water and contain high levels of sodium chloride or other salts. Covered in a black jellylike slime, it is not known which of these organisms form the rock and which of these are just living on them. According to Baxter and other scientists, these living rocks form the ecological base of the lake, reports The Weather Channel.

Bonnie Baxter from the Westminster College has been studying the Great Salk of Utah for quite some time when she stumbled upon an important discovery when the lake's water volumes were reduced by a drought. According to Baxter, the Salk Lake contains one of the largest collections of microbial biotherms which can offer an interesting look into the early days on the Earth. These are important because these rocks are actual rocks, developed by bacteria and microbes. This is the point where biology meets geology. However, there is still so much left to explore about the microbialites that the scientists don't even know what to call, says Capital Berg.

The Great Salt Lake of Utah has a huge ecological impact on the oil and gas industries due to the presence of its biotherms or livings rocks. This will help the scientists understand where to find the oil and gas deposits. The lower levels of water in the lake has drawn attention to these microbial biotherms. However, the waning health of the lake due to causeway construction can severely impact the economy and lives of the residents of Utah, says CDA News.