Initial Accretion in Hamelin Pool Microbialites: The Role of Entophysalis in Precipitation of Microbial Micrite

7Citations
Citations of this article
8Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

One of the largest assemblages of living marine microbialites, with shapes and sizes analogous to ancient structures, is found along the margins of Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, Western Australia. An investigation of microbial mats on the surfaces of these structures using petrographic analysis, light, and scanning electron microscopy identified the in situ precipitation of micrite as an important accretion mechanism in all major mat types (pustular, smooth, and colloform). Within each mat type, peloidal micrite, composed of nano-bulbous spheres to tabular and rod-shaped crystals, was closely linked with cells of the coccoid cyanobacterium Entophysalis, and microtextures of the micrite reflected the size and distribution of Entophysalis colonies. In pustular surface mats, where large colonies of Entophysalis were common, large clots of micrite were distributed randomly throughout the mat. In contrast, in smooth and colloform mats, where smaller colonies of Entophysalis were distributed along horizons, micrite formed fine laminae. In all surface mat types, micrite associated with Entophysalis had a characteristic honeycomb appearance, resulting from cell and/or colony entombment. These findings redefine our understanding of microbialite accretion in Hamelin Pool, recognizing the importance of microbial micrite in microbialite growth and showing that coccoid cyanobacteria are capable of building laminated structures. Moreover, Entophysalis, the dominant visible microbe associated with the precipitation of micrite in Hamelin Pool, has a lineage to Eoentophysalis, found throughout early and middle Proterozoic microbialites assemblages. These findings reinforce the importance of Hamelin Pool as a window to the past.

References Powered by Scopus

Microbial carbonates: The geological record of calcified bacterial-algal mats and biofilms

1359Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Processes of carbonate precipitation in modern microbial mats

1290Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Microbialites: organosedimentary deposits of benthic microbial communities

874Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Diagenesis of the Marinoan cap dolostone, Southern Amazon Craton: An unconventional petroleum system in the evolution of the Araras-Alto Paraguai Basin

6Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

High-frequency palaeoenvironmental changes in the mixed siliciclastic–carbonate sedimentary system from a lower Permian restricted basin (West Gondwana, southern Brazil)

4Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Searching for microbial contribution to micritization of shallow marine sediments

4Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Vitek, B. E., Suosaari, E. P., Stolz, J. F., Oehlert, A. M., & Reid, R. P. (2022). Initial Accretion in Hamelin Pool Microbialites: The Role of Entophysalis in Precipitation of Microbial Micrite. Geosciences (Switzerland), 12(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12080304

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

Professor / Associate Prof. 2

40%

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 2

40%

Researcher 1

20%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Earth and Planetary Sciences 4

80%

Environmental Science 1

20%

Article Metrics

Tooltip
Mentions
Blog Mentions: 1

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free