Enhanced development of lacustrine microbialites on gravity flow deposits, Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Bouton, Anthony; Vennin, Emmanuelle; Mulder, Thierry; Pace, Aurélie; Bourillot, Raphaël; Thomazo, Christophe; Brayard, Arnaud; Goslar, Tomasz; Buoncristiani, Jean‐François; Désaubliaux, Guy; Visscher, Pieter T.

doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.05.004

Cited by 17 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…At Lake Clifton, concentric rings related to past cycles of outward mat growth are apparent in the horizontal X‐ray CT scan (Figure ). These lateral growth structures are common in Lake Clifton thrombolites (Moore & Burne, ), and similar growth structures have been identified in microbialites forming in a number of lacustrine environments (Bouton et al., ; Kempe et al., ; Rosen et al., ).…”

Section: Results and Interpretationsupporting

confidence: 61%

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

Warden

Coshell²,

Rosen

et al. 2019

Geobiology

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Modern microbialites are often located within groundwater discharge zones, yet the role of groundwater in microbialite accretion has yet to be resolved. To understand relationships between groundwater, microbialites, and associated microbial communities, we quantified and characterized groundwater flow and chemistry in active thrombolitic microbialites in Lake Clifton, Western Australia, and compared these observations to inactive thrombolites and lakebed sediments. Groundwater flows upward through an interconnected network of pores within the microstructure of active thrombolites, discharging directly from thrombolite heads into the lake. This upwelling groundwater is fresher than lake water and is hypothesized to support microbial mat growth by reducing salinity and providing limiting nutrients in an osmotically stressful and oligotrophic habitat. This is in contrast to inactive thrombolites that show no evidence of microbial mat colonization and are infiltrated by hypersaline lake water. Groundwater discharge through active thrombolites contrasts with the surrounding lakebed, where hypersaline lake water flows downward through sandy sediments at very low rates. Based on an appreciation for the role of microorganisms in thrombolite accretion, our findings suggest conditions favorable to thrombolite formation still exist in certain locations of Lake Clifton despite increasing lake water salinity. This study is the first to characterize groundwater flow rates, paths, and chemistry within a microbialite‐forming environment and provides new insight into how groundwater can support microbial mats believed to contribute to microbialite formation in modern and ancient environments.

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Section: Results and Interpretationsupporting

confidence: 61%

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

Warden

Coshell²,

Rosen

et al. 2019

Geobiology

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“…In contrast, the macrofabrics of Great Salt Lake display a ‘shore to lake’ gradient, with low‐relief cow‐pie and mimetic crusts near the shoreline evolving to high‐relief domes and columns in deeper environments. This organization can vary depending on local substrate heterogeneities (Bouton et al ., 2016b). In other words, the diversity of the macrofabrics responds to changes in accommodation space and period of development.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Broecker & Orr, ; Murchison, ; Benson et al ., ; Oviatt et al ., ; Oviatt, ), depositional environment and limnology (e.g. Eardley, ; Currey & James, ; Spencer et al ., ; Currey & Oviatt, ; Madsen, ; Bouton et al ., 2016b), hydrology and anthropic perturbations (Hahl & Langford, ; Gwynn, ; Rupke & McDonald, ; Lindsay et al ., ) and ecology (e.g. Stephens & Gillespie, ; Post, ; Wurtsbaugh et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The lacustrine microbial carbonate factory of the successive Lake Bonneville and Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

et al. 2018

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The Bonneville Basin is a continental lacustrine system accommodating extensive microbial carbonate deposits corresponding to two distinct phases: the deep Lake Bonneville (30 000 to 11 500 14C bp) and the shallow Great Salt Lake (since 11 500 14C bp). A characterization of these microbial deposits and their associated sediments provides insights into their spatio‐temporal distribution patterns. The Bonneville phase preferentially displays vertical distribution of the microbial deposits resulting from high‐amplitude lake level variations. Due to the basin physiography, the microbial deposits were restricted to a narrow shoreline belt following Bonneville lake level variations. Carbonate production was more efficient during intervals of relative lake level stability as recorded by the formation of successive terraces. In contrast, the Great Salt Lake microbial deposits showed a great lateral distribution, linked to the modern flat bottom configuration. A low vertical distribution of the microbial deposits was the result of the shallow water depth combined with a low amplitude of lake level fluctuations. These younger microbial deposits display a higher diversity of fabrics and sizes. They are distributed along an extensive ‘shore to lake’ transect on a flat platform in relation to local and progressive accommodation space changes. Microbial deposits are temporally discontinuous throughout the lake history showing longer hiatuses during the Bonneville phase. The main parameters controlling the rate of carbonate production are related to the interaction between physical (kinetics of the mineral precipitation, lake water temperature and runoff), chemical (Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3− concentrations, Mg/Ca ratio, dilution and depletion) and/or biological (trophic) factors. The contrast in evolution of Lake Bonneville and Great Salt Lake microbial deposits during their lacustrine history leads to discussions on major chemical and climatic changes during this interval as well as the role of physiography. Furthermore, it provides novel insights into the composition, structure and formation of microbialite‐rich carbonate deposits under freshwater and hypersaline conditions.

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“…They have, in general, never been buried and (early) diagenetic processes have been carefully addressed in literature or are under investigation. Eardley (1938), Sandberg (1975), Currey and James (1982), Spencer et al (1984), Currey and Oviatt (1985), Pedone and Dickson (2000), Chidsey et al (2015), Bouton et al (2016aBouton et al ( , 2016b, Pace et al (2016), Lindsay et al (2017) Ries Crater lake (South Germany)…”

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

What do we really know about early diagenesis of non-marine carbonates?

Boever

Brasier

Foubert

et al. 2017

Sedimentary Geology

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Non-marine carbonate rocks including cave, spring, stream, calcrete and lacustrine-palustrine sediments, are susceptible to early diagenetic processes. These can profoundly alter the carbonate fabric and affect paleoclimatic proxies. This review integrates recent insights into diagenesis of non-marine carbonates and in particular the variety of early diagenetic processes, and presents a conceptual framework to address them. With ability to study at smaller and smaller scales, down to nanometers, one can now observe diagenesis taking place the moment initial precipitates have formed, and continuing thereafter. Diagenesis may affect whole rocks, but it typically starts in nano-and micro-environments. The potential for diagenetic alteration depends on the reactivity of the initial precipitate, commonly being metastable phases like vaterite, Ca-oxalates, hydrous Mg-carbonates and aragonite with regard to the ambient fluid. Furthermore, organic compounds commonly play a crucial role in hosting these early transformations. Processes like neomorphism (inversion and recrystallization), cementation and replacement generally result in an overall coarsening of the fabric and homogenization of the wide range of complex, primary microtextures. If early diagenetic modifications are completed in a short time span compared to the (annual to millennial) time scale of interest, then recorded paleoenvironmental signals and trends could still acceptably reflect original, depositional conditions. However, even compact, non-marine carbonate deposits may behave locally and temporarily as open systems to crystal-fluid exchange and overprinting of one or more geochemical proxies is not unexpected. Looking to the future, relatively few studies have examined the behaviour of promising geochemical records, such as clumped isotope thermometry and (non-conventional) stable isotopes, in well-constrained diagenetic settings. Ongoing and future in-vitro and in-situ experimental approaches will help to investigate and detangle sequences of intermediate, diagenetic products, processes and controls, and to quantify rates of early diagenesis, bridging a gap between nanoscale, molecular lab studies and the fossil field rock record of non-marine carbonates.

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Enhanced development of lacustrine microbialites on gravity flow deposits, Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Cited by 17 publications

References 41 publications

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

The lacustrine microbial carbonate factory of the successive Lake Bonneville and Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

What do we really know about early diagenesis of non-marine carbonates?

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