Microbialites in the Middle–Upper Jurassic Ammonitico Rosso of the Southern Alps (Italy)

Massari, Francesco; Westphal, Hildegard

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-0397-1_10

Cited by 5 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Throughout the Mesozoic, there are other examples of microbialites that include trapped grains only in some of their microfabrics (Achauer and Johnson, 1969;Leinfelder et al, 1994;Herrmann, 1996;Immenhauser et al, 2005;Rodríguez-Martínez et al, 2012;Quijada et al, 2015Quijada et al, , 2016, but which are not considered agglutinated microbialites as a whole. All of these partly-agglutinated Mesozoic examples are also interpreted to be de posited in shallow-marine peritidal settings, with the exception of those described by Acosta et al (1988) and Massari and Westphal (2011) in Jurassic deep-marine Ammonitico Rosso facies, which also show trapped and bound grains in some of their microfabrics.…”

Section: Fossil Analogues Of Modern Agglutinated Microbialitesmentioning

confidence: 89%

‘Trapping and binding’: A review of the factors controlling the development of fossil agglutinated microbialites and their distribution in space and time

Suárez-González

Benito

Quijada

et al. 2019

Earth-Science Reviews

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Trapping and binding of allochthonous grains by benthic microbial communities has been considered a fundamental process of microbialite accretion since its discovery in popular shallow-marine modern examples (Bahamas and Shark Bay). However, agglutinated textures are rare in fossil microbialites and, thus, the role of trapping and binding has been debated in the last four decades. Recently, renewed attention on this subject has produced new findings of fossil agglutinated microbialites (those mainly formed by 'trapping and binding' and analogous to modern examples), but they are still few and geologically recent (post-Paleozoic) when compared to the 3.5 Gyr long record of microbialites. In order to better understand this discrepancy between modern and fossil examples, an extensive literature review is presented here, providing the first thorough database of agglutinated microbialites, which shows that all of them are formed in shallow-marine environments and most under tidal influence. In addition, a Lower Cretaceous example is described, including very diverse microbialites, each of them formed in a particular paleoenvironment. Some of these microbialites developed in grainy settings, but only those formed in marginal-marine tide-influenced environments accreted mainly by trapping and binding the surrounding grains, being analogous of modern agglutinated microbialites, and matching the environmental pattern observed in the literature database. The combination of the literature review with the case study allows to discuss the factors that control and enhance 'trapping and binding': a) occurrence of grains in the microbialite environment; b) frequent currents that mobilize the grains and supply them onto the microbialite surface; c) high concentration and diversity of electrolytes in the water to increase the adhesiveness of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of the microbialite surface; and d) a CaCO 3 saturation state not high enough to promote early and strong carbonate precipitation within EPS, which would eventually decrease its availability to adhere grains. Therefore, this review shows that the keys to solve the 'trapping and binding' debate may be environmental, because the conjuction of these hydrodynamic and hydrochemical parameters is preferentially achieved in shallow-marine settings and especially in those influenced by tides, at least since Mesozoic times. This explains the limited environmental and stratigraphic distribution of microbialites mainly formed by 'trapping and binding', and opens new ways to look, geologically and microbiologically, at this process, so often cited and yet so rare.

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Section: Fossil Analogues Of Modern Agglutinated Microbialitesmentioning

confidence: 89%

‘Trapping and binding’: A review of the factors controlling the development of fossil agglutinated microbialites and their distribution in space and time

Suárez-González

Benito

Quijada

et al. 2019

Earth-Science Reviews

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“…figs 5c and 7 of Sprechmann et al., 2004; and fig. 8 of Massari & Westphal, 2011). The aforementioned aspects seem to be destructive, rather than constructive, and are largely comparable with typical features and structures of bioturbation in carbonate rocks (cf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Reitner, 1993; Shen & Webb, 2005; Rodríguez‐Martínez, 2011, and references therein; Tomás et al., 2013; Rodríguez‐Martínez & Reitner, 2015); marine hardgrounds, condensed sequences and hiatal surfaces (e.g. Föllmi et al., 2011; Massari & Westphal, 2011); and freshwater microbialites and tufas with insect larvae (e.g. Bertrand‐Sarfati et al., 1994; Drysdale, 1999; Hägele et al., 2006; Arenas et al., 2007; Gradziński, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Columnar microbialites of the upper Miocene of Mallorca (Spain): A new morphogenetic model based on concurrent accretion and bioturbation – uncommon or overlooked?

et al. 2021

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Bioturbation has long been considered an antagonist of microbialite development and preservation, because metazoan grazing and burrowing destroy benthic microbial communities. However, metazoan bioturbation, in conjunction with microbial accretion, may have had a significant role in the morphogenesis of some columnar microbialites, as suggested by the case study presented and by some Phanerozoic and Upper Proterozoic analogues discussed here. Late Miocene in age, the studied microbial biostrome developed in a western Mediterranean restricted shallow‐water platform dominated by grainy sediments and with a notable influence of bioturbation. This study is focused on the complex accretionary history of the columnar microbialite biostrome and on its striking dark grey colour, which is attributed to Mn‐oxyhydroxides precipitated during meteoric diagenesis linked to subaerial exposure. The characteristic columnar structure of the microbialite biostrome has features consistent with an accretionary origin of the columns, but also has features suggesting metazoan disruption. Therefore, a new morphogenetic model for columnar microbialites is presented, highlighting the concomitant roles of microbial accretion, bioturbation and grainy sediment infill of the intercolumn space. Whether this model is an exception or a rule, should be tested on other examples of Phanerozoic and Upper Proterozoic columnar microbialites. Nevertheless, this model is a step forward in understanding the complex microbe–metazoan interactions as constructive coexistence rather than just as destructive competition.

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“…The Eype's Mouth Fault is but one of a number of active extensional Jurassic faults that characterized the Wessex Basin during a period of active subsidence and suggests that the Marlstone and Junction Bed exposed on the Dorset coast were deposited on the relatively non-subsident part of a tilted block that probably had only modest effect on sea-floor topography but may have extended into the photic zone (probably ~200 m or less), allowing local development of microbially mediated stromatolites (Sellwood & Jenkyns, 1975;Chadwick, 1986;Karner et al 1987;Jenkyns & Senior, 1991;cf. Jenkyns, 1971;Vera and Martin-Agarra, 1994;Massari and Westphal, 2011;Reolid, 2011).…”

Section: Hc Jenkyns and S Macfarlanementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rosso Ammonitico) that also commonly contain stromatolites, possibly formed from microbial organisms growing within the photic zone, and mineralized Fe-Mn oxyhydroxide nodules and hardgrounds and which formed on fault-bounded topographic highs or seamounts, typically related to extensional half-graben systems (e.g. Jenkyns, 1970Jenkyns, , 1971Jenkyns & Torrens, 1971;Bernoulli & Jenkyns, 1974;Prescott, 1988;Cronan et al 1991;Vera & Martín-Algarra, 1994;Massari & Westphal, 2011;Reolid, 2011;Föllmi, 2016;Scopelliti & Russo, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The chemostratigraphy and environmental significance of the Marlstone and Junction Bed (Beacon Limestone, Toarcian, Lower Jurassic, Dorset, UK)

Jenkyns

MacFarlane

2021

Geol. Mag.

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Two fallen blocks of the Marlstone and stratigraphically overlying Junction Bed sampled on the beach below Doghouse Cliff in Dorset, UK (Wessex Basin) have been examined for carbon and oxygen isotopes of bulk carbonate as well as for strontium, carbon and oxygen isotopes and Mg:Ca ratios in the contained belemnites. The sequence, which contains most of the Toarcian zones and subzones within a metre or less of grey to yellow to pink, red and brown fossil-rich nodular limestone, is extremely condensed and lithologically similar to pelagic red limestones of the Tethyan Jurassic that are locally mineralized with Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides (e.g., Rosso Ammonitico). Strontium-isotope ratios of the contained belemnites are compatible with existing reference curves and both blocks show a rise to more radiogenic values post-dating the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary. The high degree of correlation between the relatively negative carbon and oxygen isotopes of the bulk carbonate is compatible with significant diagenetic overprint, and contrasts with higher carbon-isotope values in coeval condensed coccolith-rich limestones elsewhere. Evidence for the characteristic signature of the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, as represented by organic-rich sediment, is absent, possibly owing to a stratigraphic gap. Both blocks exhibit abrupt carbon-isotope shifts to lower values, one of which could represent the limbs of an incompletely recorded negative excursion associated with the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event. That the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event was also a significant hyperthermal is illustrated in both blocks by a drop in oxygen-isotope values and rise in Mg:Ca ratios of belemnites close to the base of the Junction Bed in the lowest part of the serpentinum zone.

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Microbialites in the Middle–Upper Jurassic Ammonitico Rosso of the Southern Alps (Italy)

Cited by 5 publications

References 35 publications

‘Trapping and binding’: A review of the factors controlling the development of fossil agglutinated microbialites and their distribution in space and time

‘Trapping and binding’: A review of the factors controlling the development of fossil agglutinated microbialites and their distribution in space and time

Columnar microbialites of the upper Miocene of Mallorca (Spain): A new morphogenetic model based on concurrent accretion and bioturbation – uncommon or overlooked?

The chemostratigraphy and environmental significance of the Marlstone and Junction Bed (Beacon Limestone, Toarcian, Lower Jurassic, Dorset, UK)

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