New insights into microbially induced sedimentary structures in alkaline hypersaline El Beida Lake, Wadi El Natrun, Egypt

Taher, Amany G.; Abdel-Motelib, Ali

doi:10.1007/s00367-015-0411-9

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…These authors observed roll‐ups, curling and rip‐ups in the more mature mats (more than 40 days old) depending on the flow velocity. In some cases, strong wind‐driven currents acting on microbial mats result in folding (Taher & Abdel‐Motelib, ). These authors observed that the orientation of the wrinkles were dependent on the wind flow directions over successive days, demonstrating the influence of physical dynamics of the environment, such as waves, currents, surges, etc., in microbial mat behaviour (Noffke & Krumbein, ; Taher & Abdel‐Motelib, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first model proposes their formation by accumulation of gypsum crystals in subaqueous deep environments, with no relation to organic activity (Schreiber & El Tabakh, 2000). The second model of formation is related to microbial mat environments, such as hypersaline lagoons, intertidal and lower intertidal marine settings, and in continental shallow saline water bodies (Allen et al, 2009;Taher & Abdel-Motelib, 2015). In these environments, the microbial mat either traps and bounds salt crystals during storm surges (Hardie & Eugster, 1971), or evaporitic minerals nucleate and grow within the brine soaked microbial mat (Rouchy & Monty, 2000;Taher & Abdel-Motelib, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The second model of formation is related to microbial mat environments, such as hypersaline lagoons, intertidal and lower intertidal marine settings, and in continental shallow saline water bodies (Allen et al, 2009;Taher & Abdel-Motelib, 2015). In these environments, the microbial mat either traps and bounds salt crystals during storm surges (Hardie & Eugster, 1971), or evaporitic minerals nucleate and grow within the brine soaked microbial mat (Rouchy & Monty, 2000;Taher & Abdel-Motelib, 2015). The cyclicity found in alternating gypsum beds and marls is indicative of periodic fluctuations in water and solute supply to the basin, probably induced by climate oscillations (Dupont-Nivet et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Enterolithic folds in evaporites as microbially induced sedimentary structures: New model of formation and interpretation in the geological record

Escavy

Herrero

2019

Sedimentology

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Enterolithic structures are stratigraphically localized folds in gypsum beds found in certain saline evaporitic sedimentary units in a wide variety of basins. Different models of formation have been proposed, all related to inorganic processes. These models include: diagenetic transformation of gypsum beds producing either displacive growth of crystals or volume changes; mechanical folding caused by compressional stress; and folding produced by slumping. The analysis of three Cenozoic evaporite sequences in Spain reveals that none of the previous models explains their origin and existence. In these outcrops, gypsum enterolithic structures occur in horizontal beds with parallel troughs and crests of the folds. They appear in shoreline facies of lacustrine environments and did not undergo major diagenetic transformations after the primary lithification of the original sediment. Based on these observations, together with the study of a modern analogue in Minorca, Spain, a new model is proposed for the genesis of enterolithic structures. This new model is based on the existence of a microbial mat exposed to brine concentration–dilution cycles and strong wind events. The high wind flow events enhanced folding of the microbial mat that became subaerially exposed and lithified due to subsequent evaporation. Therefore, the presence of enterolithic structures could be used as an indicator of shallow water environmental conditions subject to variations in brine concentration in areas with strong wind flow events. Previous studies of some evaporitic successions should be revisited, taking into account the proposed model, which would imply new depositional environment interpretations. At the same time, the proposed model could explain the existence of Kinneyia‐type structures, also known as wrinkle structures, formed beneath microbial mats in peritidal zones. Moreover, considering enterolithic structures as microbially induced sedimentary structures could be useful as evidence of microbial life in the ancient geological record and on other planets such as Mars.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Enterolithic folds in evaporites as microbially induced sedimentary structures: New model of formation and interpretation in the geological record

Escavy

Herrero

2019

Sedimentology

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“…MISS occur in aquatic sediments and sedimentary rocks of all Earth ages including the early Archean (Schieber, 1986 , 1999; Gerdes and Krumbein, 1987 ; contributions in Hagadorn et al, 1999 ; Eriksson et al, 2000 ; Gerdes et al, 2000 ; Noffke, 2000 ; Prave, 2002 ; Noffke et al, 2002 , 2003 , 2006a , 2006b , 2008 , 2013; Pruss et al, 2006 ; Sarkar et al, 2006 ; contributions in Schieber et al, 2007 ; Gehling and Droser, 2009 ; Heubeck, 2009 ; contributions in Noffke, 2009 ; Javeaux et al , 2010 ; Carmona et al, 2012 ; Flannery and Walter, 2012 ; contributions in Noffke and Chafetz, 2012 ; Sheldon, 2012; Beraldi-Campesi, 2013 ; Wilmeth et al, 2014 , 2019; Chu et al, 2015 ; Homann et al, 2015 ; Taher and Abdel-Motelib, 2015 ; Peterffy et al, 2016 ; Cuadrado and Pan, 2018 ; Homann, 2019 ; Maisano et al, 2019 ; Basilici et al, 2020 ; Noffke et al, 2021 , and many more contributions). Despite the fact that in a geological field survey they are relatively difficult to detect (compared to stromatolites, for example), MISS appear to have a much higher abundance than such precipitated microbialites.…”

Section: Biofilms and Microbial Mats In Clastic Depositsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbially Induced Sedimentary Structures in Clastic Deposits: Implication for the Prospection for Fossil Life on Mars

Noffke

2021

Astrobiology

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Abundant and well-preserved fossil microbenthos occurs in siliciclastic deposits of all Earth ages, from the early Archean to today. Studies in modern settings show how microbenthos responds to sediment dynamics by baffling and trapping, binding, biostabilization, and growth. Results of this microbial-sediment interaction are microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS). Successful prospection for rich MISS occurrences in the terrestrial lithological record requires unraveling genesis and taphonomy of MISS, both of which are defined only by a narrow range of specific conditions. These conditions have to coincide with high detectability which is a function of outcrop quality, bedding character, and rock type. Assertions on biogenicity of MISS morphologies must be based on the presence of microbially induced sedimentary textures (MIST), which are MISS-internal textures comprising replacement minerals arranged into microscopic biological morphologies, ancient carbonaceous matter, trace fossils, and geochemical signals. MISS serve as possible templates for the decryption of ancient life-processes on Mars. This article closes with a perspective on selected deposits and ancient environments in Meridiani Planum, Gale Crater, and Jezero Crater, Mars, regarding their potential for MISS occurrences. The earlier hypothesis of structures on Mars as potentially being MISS is revised.

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Quaternary of Egypt

Hamdan

Hassan

2019

Regional Geology Reviews

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New insights into microbially induced sedimentary structures in alkaline hypersaline El Beida Lake, Wadi El Natrun, Egypt

Cited by 7 publications

References 53 publications

Enterolithic folds in evaporites as microbially induced sedimentary structures: New model of formation and interpretation in the geological record

Enterolithic folds in evaporites as microbially induced sedimentary structures: New model of formation and interpretation in the geological record

Microbially Induced Sedimentary Structures in Clastic Deposits: Implication for the Prospection for Fossil Life on Mars

Quaternary of Egypt

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