Discriminating stromatolite formation modes using rare earth element geochemistry: Trapping and binding versus in situ precipitation of stromatolites from the Neoproterozoic Bitter Springs Formation, Northern Territory, Australia

Corkeron, Maree; Webb, Gregory E.; Moulds, Joshua; Grey, Kathleen

doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2012.04.019

Cited by 44 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…Carbonate grain trapping and in situ precipitation are distinctly different processes of microbial carbonate formation (Awramik & Margulis, ; Burne & Moore, ; Dupraz et al ., ). However, many ancient fine‐grained stromatolites have experienced some degree of alteration (Fairchild, ; Corkeron et al ., ). This can make it difficult to tell whether they originally consisted of trapped carbonate mud or microbial precipitated peloids and clotted fabrics, all of which are basically composed of relatively small grains (micrite, <4 μm) and crystals (microspar, 4 to 10 μm) (Horodyski, ; Monty, ; Braithwaite et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Fine‐grained agglutinated elongate columnar stromatolites: Tieling Formation,ca1420 Ma, North China

Tosti

Riding

2016

Sedimentology

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The Mesoproterozoic Tieling Formation, near Jixian, northern China, contains thick beds of vertically branched, laterally elongate, columnar stromatolites. Carbonate mud is the primary component of both the stromatolites and their intervening matrix. Mud abundance is attributed to water column ‘whiting’ precipitation stimulated by cyanobacterial photosynthesis. Neomorphic microspar gives the stromatolites a ‘streaky’ microfabric and small mud flakes are common in the matrix. The columns consist of low‐relief, mainly non‐enveloping, laminae that show erosive truncation and well‐defined repetitive lamination. In plan view, the columns form disjunct elongate ridges <10 cm wide separated by narrow matrix‐filled runnels. The stromatolite surfaces were initially cohesive, rather than rigid, and prone to scour, and are interpreted as current aligned microbial mats that trapped carbonate mud. The pervasive ridge–runnel system suggests scale‐dependent biophysical feedback between: (i) carbonate mud supply; (ii) current duration, strength and direction; and (iii) growth and trapping by prolific mat growth. Together, these factors determined the size, morphology and arrangement of the stromatolite columns and their laminae, as well as their branching patterns, alignment and ridge–runnel spacing. Ridge–runnel surfaces resemble ripple mark patterns, but whether currents were parallel and/or normal to stromatolite alignment remains unclear. The formation and preservation of Tieling columns required plentiful supply of carbonate mud, mat‐building microbes well‐adapted to cope with this abundant sediment, and absence of both significant early lithification and bioturbation. These factors were time limited, and Tieling stromatolites closely resemble coeval examples in the Belt‐Purcell Supergroup of Laurentia. The dynamic interactions between mat growth, currents and sediment supply that determined the shape of Tieling columns contributed to the morphotypical diversity that characterizes mid–late Proterozoic branched stromatolites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Fine‐grained agglutinated elongate columnar stromatolites: Tieling Formation,ca1420 Ma, North China

Tosti

Riding

2016

Sedimentology

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“…This model could explain a paucity of microfossils in the micrite of ancient stromatolites (Schopf, Kudryavtsev, Czaja, & Tripathi, ). Ongoing studies of rare earth elements in stromatolites may prove useful in discriminating precipitated micrite from trapped and bound fine‐grained material (Corkeron, Webb, Moulds, & Grey, ).…”

Section: Modern Take On Long‐standing Controversiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stromatolites, so what?! A tribute to Robert N. Ginsburg

Suosaari

Reid

Andres³

2019

The Depositional Record

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In tribute to Dr. Robert N. Ginsburg (1925–2017), we examine his 1991 seminal paper Controversies about Stromatolites: Vices and Virtues, which summarized current ideas about stromatolites including controversies of definition, whether ancient stromatolites should be interpreted as sedimentary structures and mechanisms of carbonate fixation. The accepted model of stromatolite morphogenesis in 1991 was that biology controls microscale internal structure whereas environment controls macroscale morphology. Ginsburg, however, predicted that biology and environmental influences on stromatolite growth were closely coupled at macro, meso and micro scales. Recent research in Hamelin Pool and the Bahamas has advanced our understanding of the inherent duality of stromatolites and associated controversies. These studies suggest that at the macroscale, when physical forces are strong, the environment is the main control on the morphology; however, when physical forces are weak, biological communities become the main drivers of morphology. Therefore, stromatolites can be considered both as fossils and as sedimentary structures dependent on the energy in the environment of deposition. At the mesoscale, as predicted by Trompette, stromatolite fabrics are influenced equally by environment and biology. As the degree of lamination is often unknown or heterogeneous, a generic genetic term such as ‘microbialite’ is considered the most appropriate terminology for structures of probable microbial origin. At the microscale, stromatolite microfabrics reflect environmentally driven cycling of microbial communities, reflecting both biology and environment. With respect to carbonate fixation, research on modern stromatolites provides a model for biofilm precipitation of micritic laminae lacking microfossils in ancient stromatolites. As pointed out by Ginsburg, the inherent duality of environmental and biological controls of morphogenesis at all scales is at the root of many long‐standing controversies. Recent investigations corroborate the foresight of Ginsburg nearly 30 years ago, further confirming well‐preserved stromatolites can provide insight into both biology and environmental factors in ancient ecosystems.

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“…very limited trapping and binding of allochthonous sediment in MC1, which may favour a slight bias towards LREE uptake in the growing microbialite consistent with scavenging on organic ligands in the biofilm. Differences in REE distributions between microbialites and surrounding coeval particulate grainy sediments have been used to discriminate between microbial carbonate formation by trapping and binding or by in situ precipitation (Corkeron et al, 2012). In the present case, MC1 appears to represent microbial carbonate formed through in situ precipitation.…”

Section: Microbialite Categories Mc1 Mc2 and Mc3: Seawater-like Vs mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the present case, MC1 appears to represent microbial carbonate formed through in situ precipitation. The microbialites analysed by Corkeron et al (2012) also had elevated LREEs relative to associated carbonate grainstone, but there were no marine cements that could constrain the REE distribution of the water body in which they precipitated, and consequently any degree of initial LREE enrichment could not be calculated.…”

Section: Microbialite Categories Mc1 Mc2 and Mc3: Seawater-like Vs mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, where precipitates are known to be of marine origin a priori, divergence from a marine pattern may inform interpretations of subsequent diagenetic processes or pathways (Rachidi et al, 2009;Webb et al, 2009Webb et al, , 2012Azmy et al, 2011). Over the last decades, REE + Y concentrations of both modern and ancient carbonate successions, and particularly microbialites, have been successfully used to interpret the nature of seawater and lacustrine waters (Barrat et al, 2000;Webb andKamber, 2000, 2011;Kamber and Webb, 2001;Van Kranendonk et al, 2003;Bolhar et al, 2004;Kamber et al, 2004;Shields and Webb, 2004;Cabioch et al, 2006;Olivier and Boyet, 2006;Bolhar and Van Kranendonk, 2007;Allwood et al, 2010), palaeogeography (Nothdurft et al, 2004;Frimmel, 2009), the origin of microbialites (Guido et al, 2011;Corkeron et al, 2012), and diagenetic processes (Banner et al, 1988;Banner and Hanson, 1990;Rachidi et al, 2009;Webb et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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REE patterns of microbial carbonate and cements from Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) siliceous sponge mounds (Djebel Bou Dahar, High Atlas, Morocco)

2015

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Marine microbialites serve as robust seawater rare earth element and yttrium (REE + Y) proxies through many intervals of Earth history, but questions remain about the partitioning of REEs into different coeval carbonate phases, potential syn-depositional contaminants and elemental redistribution during diagenesis. Microbial carbonates, cements and background sediments were analysed for stable isotopes (O, C) and trace element geochemistry in Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) mid-to outer ramp siliceous sponge microbial mounds from the High Atlas, Morocco. Trace elements were analysed using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Microbialites, non-luminescent radial/radiaxial fibrous (RF) cement and well-preserved brachiopods have stable isotope values similar to published Early Jurassic marine values. Luminescent blocky sparite (BS) cements have lighter stable isotope values consistent with burial diagenesis. Early marine RF cement has shalenormalised (subscript sn ) REE + Y patterns with characteristics of oxygenated seawater, whereas cavityoccluding BS cement has high concentration bell-shaped (REE + Y) sn patterns, very unlike seawater. Allomicrite has relatively high REE concentrations with flatter (REE + Y) sn patterns. Microbialites include three subclasses distinguished on the basis of petrography and (REE + Y) sn patterns. Clotted peloidal microbialites (MC1) have (REE + Y) sn patterns broadly consistent with seawater, but with variable Ce anomalies and higher concentrations and slightly less LREE depletion relative to RF cements. Other clotted peloidal to leiolitic microbialites (MC2) have flatter (REE + Y) sn patterns and variable Ce anomalies, whereas leiolitic microbialites (MC3) have patterns similar to allomicrite. Hence, MC1 microbialites and early marine RF cements preserved seawater-like REE + Y patterns despite subsequent diagenesis, confirming that Early Jurassic marine REE distributions were similar to late Palaeozoic, Late Jurassic and Holocene distributions. Importantly, LREE enrichment in allomicrite and some microbialites (MC2, MC3) highlights the occurrence of LREE-enriched components that may represent marine particulate matter that preferentially scavenged LREEs from the water column prior to sedimentation. The Sinemurian siliceous sponge microbial mounds accumulated in well-oxygenated settings rather than on the edge of an oxygen minimum zone. Some of the high Ce contents in the microbialites may reflect redistribution of Ce during earliest diagenesis in suboxic pore fluids, or incorporation of LREE enriched particles or LREE uptake in the growing microbialite consistent with scavenging on organic ligands in the biofilm itself. This study demonstrates how various sedimentary sources and diagenetic processes can significantly affect otherwise robust marine REE patterns in microbial mounds within a relatively siliciclastic-free carbonate environment.

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Discriminating stromatolite formation modes using rare earth element geochemistry: Trapping and binding versus in situ precipitation of stromatolites from the Neoproterozoic Bitter Springs Formation, Northern Territory, Australia

Cited by 44 publications

References 70 publications

Fine‐grained agglutinated elongate columnar stromatolites: Tieling Formation,ca1420 Ma, North China

Fine‐grained agglutinated elongate columnar stromatolites: Tieling Formation,ca1420 Ma, North China

Stromatolites, so what?! A tribute to Robert N. Ginsburg

REE patterns of microbial carbonate and cements from Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) siliceous sponge mounds (Djebel Bou Dahar, High Atlas, Morocco)

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