Non-lithifying microbial ecosystem dissolves peritidal lime sand

Theodore M. Present (), Maya L. Gomes, Elizabeth J. Trower, Nathan T. Stein, Usha F. Lingappa, John Naviaux, Michael T. Thorpe, Marjorie D. Cantine, Woodward W. Fischer, Andrew H. Knoll and John P. Grotzinger
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Theodore M. Present: California Institute of Technology
Maya L. Gomes: Johns Hopkins University
Elizabeth J. Trower: University of Colorado Boulder
Nathan T. Stein: California Institute of Technology
Usha F. Lingappa: California Institute of Technology
John Naviaux: California Institute of Technology
Michael T. Thorpe: NASA Johnson Space Center
Marjorie D. Cantine: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Woodward W. Fischer: California Institute of Technology
Andrew H. Knoll: Harvard University
John P. Grotzinger: California Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Microbialites accrete where environmental conditions and microbial metabolisms promote lithification, commonly through carbonate cementation. On Little Ambergris Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, microbial mats occur widely in peritidal environments above ooid sand but do not become lithified or preserved. Sediment cores and porewater geochemistry indicated that aerobic respiration and sulfide oxidation inhibit lithification and dissolve calcium carbonate sand despite widespread aragonite precipitation from platform surface waters. Here, we report that in tidally pumped environments, microbial metabolisms can negate the effects of taphonomically-favorable seawater chemistry on carbonate mineral saturation and microbialite development.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23006-1

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23006-1

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