Stromatolite and Bunbawi Rock on Socheongdo Island, Ongjin

A stromatolite is a fossil, and a type of limestone, with a well-developed laminated organo-sedimentary structure formed by colonies of blue-green algae or cyanobacteria living in seas or lakes; although stromatolites appear throughout every geological era from the very origin of life on Earth to the present, they hold especially great academic and educational value for understanding the ancient environment and the origin of life in the Precambrian Eon, which precedes the Palaeozoic era. Precambrian stromatolites have been reported in South Korea only within the limestone of Socheongdo Island, while in North Korea they occur in areas such as near Pyeongyang. Bacterial fossils were reported for the first time in Korea within the stromatolites of Socheongdo Island, and they are regarded as the oldest fossils in the country, dating to the late Proterozoic, roughly 600 million to 1 billion years ago. The stromatolite-bearing limestone of Socheongdo Island was extensively quarried for building material from the Japanese colonial period until a few decades ago, so that little of it remains; moreover, because of its beautiful form it is at high risk of unauthorised removal, giving it high value for designation and preservation. In addition, a white crystalline limestone (marble) known as Bunbawi has been exposed by marine erosion, making the scenery of the surrounding coast very picturesque. ※ The designation's name was changed to "Precambrian Stromatolite and Bunbawi Rock on Socheongdo Island, Ongjin" (notified 26 July 2021).

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Where it is

Region

Ongjin, Incheon

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물