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Radiolarian ooze is a type of deep-sea sediment primarily composed of the skeletal remains of radiolarians, which are microscopic marine protozoa. These organisms, belonging to the class Polycystinea, are known for their intricate, silica-based skeletons called tests.123

When radiolarians die, their skeletons sink to the ocean floor, forming a siliceous ooze. This ooze is found in areas of the deep sea far from land, where the deposition of these microscopic remains is not obscured by terrestrial sediments. Radiolarian ooze is a significant geological deposit, and when uplifted, it can form sedimentary rocks like chert and flint. Fossil radiolarians have been found in rocks dating back to Precambrian times.312

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