Selective Dolomitization of Cambrian Microbial Carbonate Deposits: A Key to Mechanisms and Environments of Origin

Glumac, Bosiljka; Walker, Kenneth R.

doi:10.2307/3515300

Cited by 35 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The origin of these thrombolites is consistent with studies that determined thrombolitic fabrics can be produced or enhanced by post-depositional processes (Riding, 2000(Riding, , 2011, such as bioturbation (e.g. Walter & Heys, 1985;Glumac & Walker, 1997;Planavsky & Ginsburg, 2009). These thrombolites can provide insights into microbial-metazoan interactions, but interpreting the microbial growth style is more complicated.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Thrombolite fabrics and origins: Influences of diverse microbial and metazoan processes on Cambrian thrombolite variability in the Great Basin, California and Nevada

Theisen

Sumner

2016

Sedimentology

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Thrombolites are a common component of carbonate buildups throughout the Phanerozoic. Although they are usually described as microbialites with an internally clotted texture, a wide range of thrombolite textures have been observed and attributed to diverse processes, leading to difficulty interpreting thrombolites as a group. Interpreting thrombolitic textures in terms of ancient ecosystems requires understanding of diverse processes, specifically those due to microbial growth and metazoan activity. Many of these processes are reflected in thrombolites in the Cambrian Carrara, Bonanza King, Highland Peak and Nopah formations, Great Basin, California, USA; they comprise eight thrombolite classes based on variable arrangements and combinations of depositional and diagenetic components. Four thrombolite classes (hemispherical microdigitate, bushy, coalescent columnar and massive fenestrated) contain distinct mesoscale microbial growth structures that can be distinguished from surrounding detrital sediments and diagenetic features. By contrast, mottled thrombolites have mesostructures that dominantly reflect post‐depositional processes, including bioturbation. Mottled thrombolites are not bioturbated stromatolites, but rather formed from disruption of an originally clotted growth structure. Three thrombolite classes (arborescent digitate, amoeboid and massive) contain more cryptic textures. All eight of the thrombolite classes in this study formed in similar Cambrian depositional environments (marine passive margin). Overall, this suite of thrombolites demonstrates that thrombolites are diverse, in both internal fabrics and origin, and that clotted and patchy microbialite fabrics form from a range of processes. The diversity of textures and their origins demonstrate that thrombolites should not be used to interpret a particular ecological, evolutionary or environmental shift without first identifying the microbial growth structure and distinguishing it from other depositional, post‐depositional and diagenetic components. Furthermore, thrombolites are fundamentally different from stromatolites and dendrolites in which the laminae and dendroids reflect a primary growth structure, because clotted textures in thrombolites do not always reflect a primary microbial growth structure.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Thrombolite fabrics and origins: Influences of diverse microbial and metazoan processes on Cambrian thrombolite variability in the Great Basin, California and Nevada

Theisen

Sumner

2016

Sedimentology

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“…The upward transition from facies E to F is gradational and within the latter, the stromatolites progressively decrease in size, eventually acquiring a branching microdigitate form with consistent orientation indicating strong agitation in an intertidal setting (HoVman, 1976;Grotzinger, 1986a, b;Walker, 1997, 2000;Chakraborty, 2004). Reduction of stromatolite size has been attributed to a decrease in water depth (Beukes and Lowe, 1989;Glumac and Walker, 1997). Microbial laminites are considered to be of supratidal origin and the cracks within the facies might have formed due to desiccation (Altermann and Herbig, 1991).…”

Section: Paleogeographic Interpretationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon and oxygen isotopic variations in peritidal stromatolite cycles, Paleoproterozoic Kajrahat Limestone, Vindhyan basin of central India

Banerjee

Bhattacharya

Sarkar

2007

Journal of Asian Earth Sciences

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“…The stromatolitic beds are morphologically domal form (type LLH of Logan et al, [5]). This cyanobacterial structures were formed by microbial trapping sediment in a tidal-flat environment [6]. The mixed facies corresponds, probably, to alluvial-plain deposits.…”

Section: Composite Sequence One (Cs1 Fig 2)mentioning

confidence: 96%

Geodynamic Significance of Stacking Lower Cambrian Sequences Units in the Western Anti-Atlas

Benssaou¹

2017

IJMSA

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Abstract:In the Anti-Atlas the lower Cambrian succession was traditionally considered as a post-rift series. Recently the Western Anti-Atlas appears to be affected by an early Cambrian rifting process. In the Igherm area (Western Anti-Atlas), this succession is represented by an alternating carbonate and siliciclastic facies reflecting several sedimentary environments. The vertical stacking of these facies define four Composite-Sequences constituted, each one, by two or more transgressiveregressive sedimentary cycles. The differential and progressive extensional tectonic events seem to be the main control on the genesis and on the vertical stacking transgressive-regressive sedimentary cycles. The accommodation space is generated by a strong tilting related to syn-rift tectonics. The lack of lowstand system tracts and other erosive features, suggests the occurrence of platform drowning just below the falling sea level stage. So stratigraphic stacking of the Lower-Cambrian strata exposed in the Igherm area, constitutes the response to the rifting process in the Anti-Atlas and consequently a probably fragmentation indicator of a neoproterozoic Gondwana.

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Selective Dolomitization of Cambrian Microbial Carbonate Deposits: A Key to Mechanisms and Environments of Origin

Cited by 35 publications

References 39 publications

Thrombolite fabrics and origins: Influences of diverse microbial and metazoan processes on Cambrian thrombolite variability in the Great Basin, California and Nevada

Thrombolite fabrics and origins: Influences of diverse microbial and metazoan processes on Cambrian thrombolite variability in the Great Basin, California and Nevada

Carbon and oxygen isotopic variations in peritidal stromatolite cycles, Paleoproterozoic Kajrahat Limestone, Vindhyan basin of central India

Geodynamic Significance of Stacking Lower Cambrian Sequences Units in the Western Anti-Atlas

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