Abstract. The formation of the Paraíba do Sul river delta plain on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, gave rise to diverse lagoons formed under different sea level regimes and climate variations. Sedimentary core lithology, organic matter geochemistry, and isotopic composition (δ13C and δ15N) were analyzed to interpret the sedimentation of the paleoenvironment of the Lagoa Salgada carbonate system. Different lithofacies reflect variations in the depositional environment. The abundance of silt and clay between 5.8 and 3.7 kyr enhances the interpretation of a transgressive system, which promoted the stagnation of coarse sediment deposition due to coast drowning. Geochemistry data from this period (5.8–3.7 kyr) suggest the dominance of a wet climate with an increase of C3 plants and a marked dry event between 4.2 and 3.8 kyr. This dryer event also matches with previously published records from around the world, indicating a global event at 4.2 ka. Between 3.8 and 1.5 kyr, Lagoa Salgada was isolated; sand and silt arrived at the system by erosion with the retreat of the ocean and less fluvial drainage. Geochemistry from this moment marks the changes to favorable conditions for microorganisms active in the precipitation of carbonates, forming microbial mats and stromatolites in the drier phase.

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Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an important process in the synthesis of carbonate minerals, and thus, it is widely explored as a novel approach with potential for many technological applications. However, the processes and mechanisms involved in carbonate mineral formation in the presence of microbes are not yet fully understood. This review covers the current knowledge regarding the role of microbial cells and metabolic products (e.g., extracellular polymeric substances, proteins and amino acids) on the adsorption of divalent metals, adsorption of ionic species and as templates for crystal nucleation. Moreover, they can play a role in the mineral precipitation, size, morphology and lattice. By understanding how microbes and their metabolic products promote suitable physicochemical conditions (pH, Mg/Ca ratio and free CO32− ions) to induce carbonate nucleation and precipitation, the manipulation of the final mineral precipitates could be a reality for (geo)biotechnological approaches. The applications and implications of biogenic carbonates in areas such as geology and engineering are presented and discussed in this review, with a major focus on biotechnology.