Microbiota has always been the dominant life form, records of which are preserved in delicate forms within siticiclastic rocks. More pronounced record in the form of stromatotites possibly obscured the fact that many ...Microbiota has always been the dominant life form, records of which are preserved in delicate forms within siticiclastic rocks. More pronounced record in the form of stromatotites possibly obscured the fact that many of the same delicate structures may be recognizable within carbonate rocks too. The Neo- proterozoic Bhander Limestone in central India bears many such structures that are quintessentially similar to microbial mat-related structures reported from the Paleoproterozoic Chorhat Sandstone preserved within the same, Vindhyan Basin. Extensive microscopic, ultramicroscopic, and geochemical studies address the appre- hension that such bedding plane structures in carbonate rocks could be merely weathering products. Trapping, binding and stabilitization of sediment by microbial mats are atl evident. Preferred pyritization along the inferred, predefined microbial mats confirmed on the basis of EPMA （Electron Probe Microanalysis） results, and the enhanced carbon content along these mats layers and within suspected mat chips associated with them, are revealing. Raman spectroscopy, indeed, evinces enhanced kerogen content within both mats and mat chips. Interestingly, these microbial mat layers are recognized selectively within the lower of the two tiers of the Bhander Limestone. The lagoonal carbonate of the lower tier of the Bhander Limestone is muddy and contains a substantial proportion of silt-sized quartz grains that possibly impeded stromatolite growth. Stromatolites abound in the wave agitated upper tier of the Bhander Limestone which is dominated by oosparite. This paper provides evidence that the delicate microbial mat-related structures reported so far only from siticictastic rocks can al.so be recognized within carbonate formations, and hopes to stimulate the search for additional such features, more preferably within carbonates originated in shallow and quiet water.展开更多
基金the financial help from the CASUPE Ⅱ program of the Jadavpur University,69/2014[F.No.10-11/12(Admin IA εt B)]
文摘Microbiota has always been the dominant life form, records of which are preserved in delicate forms within siticiclastic rocks. More pronounced record in the form of stromatotites possibly obscured the fact that many of the same delicate structures may be recognizable within carbonate rocks too. The Neo- proterozoic Bhander Limestone in central India bears many such structures that are quintessentially similar to microbial mat-related structures reported from the Paleoproterozoic Chorhat Sandstone preserved within the same, Vindhyan Basin. Extensive microscopic, ultramicroscopic, and geochemical studies address the appre- hension that such bedding plane structures in carbonate rocks could be merely weathering products. Trapping, binding and stabilitization of sediment by microbial mats are atl evident. Preferred pyritization along the inferred, predefined microbial mats confirmed on the basis of EPMA （Electron Probe Microanalysis） results, and the enhanced carbon content along these mats layers and within suspected mat chips associated with them, are revealing. Raman spectroscopy, indeed, evinces enhanced kerogen content within both mats and mat chips. Interestingly, these microbial mat layers are recognized selectively within the lower of the two tiers of the Bhander Limestone. The lagoonal carbonate of the lower tier of the Bhander Limestone is muddy and contains a substantial proportion of silt-sized quartz grains that possibly impeded stromatolite growth. Stromatolites abound in the wave agitated upper tier of the Bhander Limestone which is dominated by oosparite. This paper provides evidence that the delicate microbial mat-related structures reported so far only from siticictastic rocks can al.so be recognized within carbonate formations, and hopes to stimulate the search for additional such features, more preferably within carbonates originated in shallow and quiet water.
