Lamalginite is a structured organic matter

Organic matter

Organic matter is matter that has come from a once-living organism; is capable of decay, or the product of decay; or is composed of organic compounds...

 (alginite

Alginite

Alginite is a component of some types of kerogen alongside amorphous organic matter. Alginite consists of organic-walled marine microfossils, distinct from inorganic -walled microfossils that comprise diatomaceous earth. At least two forms of alignite are distinguishable, "alginite A" and...

) in sapropel

Sapropel

Sapropel is a term used in marine geology to describe dark-coloured sediments that are rich in organic matter...

, composed of thin-walled colonial or unicellular

Microorganism

A microorganism or microbe is a microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters, or no cell at all...

 algae

Algae

Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...

 that occur as distinct laminae, cryptically interbedded with mineral matter. It displays few or no recognisable biologic structures. Lamalginite fluoresce brightly in shades of yellow under blue/ultraviolet light. The term of lamalginite was introduced by Adrian C. Hutton of the University of Wollongong

University of Wollongong

The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...

.