A radical reinterpretation of the growth and form of the stromatolite <em>Conophyton lituus</em> (Maslov) from evidence of syngenetic biofilm mineralisation

Abstract
References
Related Articles

Download: PDF (23372 KB) HTML (1 KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS) Supporting Info

Abstract

Conophyton (Maslov) is a cylindroidal stromatolite form-genus characterized by nested conical laminae. Well-preserved Conophyton, up to 4 m tall and with basal diameters of up to 50 cm , are exposed in the Proterozoic Atar Formation of Mauritania, where many occur together, in growth position, as fields of individual columns spaced between 5 to 70 cm apart. The uniformity of these forms and their regular distribution suggest that they grew in quiet-water environments below wave base. Evidence for their penecontemporaneous organomineralization is indicated by nearby toppled examples of undeformed Conophyton forms alongside eroded lithified Conophyton fragments in carbonate breccias. Two characteristics of Conophyton have been used to classify the structures - the form of the lamination and the nature of its axial structure. A mathematical/physical model provides an explanation for the growth pattern of Conophyton. It predicts that coniform structures with thickened axial zones form when upward organic growth of a biofilm moderately exceeds the rate of its mineralization. The varying characteristics of these features between different forms of Conophyton are thought to reflect biomineralization of the decaying biofilm rather than differences in the composition of microbial communities. A modern example of a syngenetic mineralization process capable of producing similar structures has been observed in the contemporary sediments of Lake Preston, Western Australia, where benthic microbial mats are being transformed into coniform lithified crusts. The initial biomineralization of the coniform mat forms magnesium silicate that first coats and permineralizes web-like microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and then coalesces into a uniform mass that provides mechanical strength to the cones. At a later stage, massive carbonate crystal growth occurs that over-prints much of this texture, leaving only small, remnant areas of the magnesium silicate phase. Many fossil Conophyton are composed of dolomite, and the remains of the microbial communities responsible for their construction are rarely found, except in areas of chert within the Conophyton. It is suggested that Proterozoic Conophyton were constructed in a tranquil environment through the accretion of microbial mats that were syngenetically permineralized by a magnesium silicate such as a smectite. Later, much of the unstable smectite would be susceptible to diagenetic replacement by either dolomite, or chert in which remnants of microbes that had been coated or permineralized could, potentially, be preserved.

	Service

	E-mail this article
	Add to my bookshelf
	Add to citation manager
	E-mail Alert
	RSS
	Articles by authors
	Robert V Burne

Key words: Conophyton morphogenesis Proterozoic stromatolite microbialite mineralisation biofilm Lake Clifton Lake Preston Maslov

Received: 20 August 2020

Corresponding Authors: ^*E-mail address: robert.burne@anu.edu.au.

Cite this article:

Robert V Burne. A radical reinterpretation of the growth and form of the stromatolite Conophyton lituus (Maslov) from evidence of syngenetic biofilm mineralisation[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2022, 11(1): 69-84.

URL:

http://journal09.magtechjournal.com/Jweb_jop/EN/10.1016/j.jop.2021.09.003 OR http://journal09.magtechjournal.com/Jweb_jop/EN/Y2022/V11/I1/69

[1] Allwood A.C.,M.R.Walter,I.W. Burch, and B.S.Kamber, 2007, 3.43 billion-year-old stromatolite reef from the Pilbara Craton of Western Australia: Ecosystem-scale insights to early life on Earth.Precambrian Research, 158, 198-227.
[2] Bartley J.K.,L.C. Kah,T.D. Frank, and T.W. Lyons, 2015. Deep‐water microbialites of the Mesoproterozoic Dismal Lakes Group: microbial growth, lithification, and implications for coniform stromatolites.Geobiology, 13,15-32.
[3] Batchelor M.T.,R.V. Burne,B.I. Henry, and M.J. Jackson, 2004a. A case for biotic morphogenesis of coniform stromatolites.Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications(ISSN: 0378-4371), 337, 319-326.
[4] Batchelor M.T.,R.V. Burne,B.I. Henry, and T. Slatyer, 2004b. Statistical physics and stromatolite growth: new perspectives on an ancient dilemma.Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications (ISSN: 0378-4371), 350, 6-11.
[5] Bertrand-Sarfati J.,A. Moussine-Pouchkine,1985. Evolution and environmental conditions of Conophyton—Jacutophyton associations in the Atar Dolomite (Upper Proterozoic, Mauritania).Precambrian Research, 29, 207-234.
[6] Bertrand-Sarfati J.,A. Moussine-Pouchkine,1998. Mauritanean microbial buildups: Meso-NeoProterozoic stromatolites and their environment. Field Trip Guide-Book, Publication of the Association of Sedimentologists Français, Paris. 3: 107 pages.
[7] Bosak, T, J.W.M. Bush, M.R. Flynn, B. Liang, S. Ono, A.P. Petroff,M.S. Sim, 2010. Formation and stability of oxygen‐rich bubbles that shape photosynthetic mats.Geobiology, 8, 45-55.
[8] Bosak, T, AH Knoll,A.P. Petroff.2013. The meaning of stromatolites.Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 41, 21-44.
[9] Brearley, Anne.& Hodgkin, E. P. 2005, Ernest Hodgkin's Swanland : estuaries and coastal lagoons of South-western Australia / Anne Brearley University of Western Australia Press Crawley, W.A. 550 pages.
[10] Burne R.V.,L.S. Moore, 1987. Microbialites: Organosedimentary Deposits of Benthic Microbial Communities.Palaios, 2, 241-254.
[11] Burne R.V.,2016. The role and significance of authigenic magnesium silicates in the organomineralization of microbialites in the Yalgorup Lakes, Western Australia. M.Phil. Thesis, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, 120 pages. https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/107317 accessed on 20 September 2021
[12] Burne R.V.,L.S. Moore,. A.G. Christy,U. Troitzsch,P.L. King,A.M. Carnerup, and P.J.Hamilton.2014. Stevensite in the modern thrombolites of Lake Clifton, Western Australia: A missing link in microbialite mineralization?.Geology, 42, 575-578.
[13] Cao, R.J.,X.L.Yuan. 2006. Stromatolites. University of Science and Technology of China Press. Beijing, 383 pages
[14] Cao R.J.,X.L.Yuan, and S.H. Xiao.2001. On morphogenesis of Conophyton stromatolites-analyses of a Conophyton-like specimen from Neoproterozoic Jiudingshan Formation in N. Jiangsu Province, China.Acta Palaeontologica Sinica 40, 324-337.
[15] Donaldson J.A.,1976. Paleoecology of Conophyton and associated stromatolites in the Precambrian Dismal Lakes and Rae Groups, Canada. In Developments. In : M.R. Walter (Ed.).Sedimentology, 20 , Stromatolites, . Developments in Sedimentology, 20, 523-534. Elsevier: Amsterdam.
[16] Feldmann M.,J.A. McKenzie.1997. Messinian stromatolite-thrombolite associations, Santa Pola, SE Spain: an analogue for the Palaeozoic?Sedimentology, 44, 893-914.
[17] Flannery, D.T. and M.R. Walter.2012. Archean tufted microbial mats and the Great Oxidation Event: new insights into an ancient problem.Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 59, 1-11.
[18] Grey K.,D.T. Flannery,M.R. Walter, and S.M. Awramik.2012. The temporal distribution and significance of axial zones in conical stromatolites. 34th International Geological Congress, Brisbane, Australia, Unearthing our Past and Future — Resourcing Tomorrow. Program with Abstracts.
[19] Kah L.C.,J. Bartley, and A. Stagner. 2009. Reinterpreting a Proterozoic enigma, Conophyton-Jacutophyton stromatolites of the Mesoproterozoic Atar Group, Mauritania. In: P,K, Swart, G.P. Eberli, J.A. McKenzie, I. Jarvis, T. Stevens, ( Ed.). Perspectives in Carbonate Geology, A Tribute to the Career of Robert Nathan Ginsburg, IAS Special Publication 41: 277-96. Chichester: Wiley.
[20] Krylov, I.N.,M.A. Semikhatov. 1976. Table of time-ranges of the principal groups of Precambrian Stromatolites. In: M.R. Walter, (Ed.).Stromatolites, Developments In Sedimentology, 20 , Appendix ii, 693-694. Elsevier: Amsterdam
[21] Komar V.A.,M.E. Raaben and M.A. Semikhatov. 1965. Conophyton in the Riphean of the USSR and their stratigraphic importance. Academy of Sciences of the USSR Geological Institute, Transactions Volume 131. 79pp, 11 plates. Publishing Office of “Science”.
[22] Lowe D.R.1994. Abiological origin of described Stromatolites older than 3.2 Ga.Geology. 22, 387-390.
[23] Mackey, T. J,, D.Y. Sumner, I. Hawes, A.D. Jungblut. and D.T. Andersen.2015. Growth of modern branched columnar stromatolites in Lake Joyce, Antarctica.Geobiology, 13, 373-390.
[24] Maslov, V.P., 1937. On the Paleozoic rock-building algae of east Siberia. Problems in Paleontology,Publications of the Laboratoty of Paleontology Moscow University USSR, (To the XVII Session of the International Geological Congress, Moscow, 1937), 2/3, 249-325.
[25] Maslov V.P.,1938. On the nature of the stromatolite Conophyton (Pre-Cambrian, Lower Tunguska River, Siberia).Problems in Paleontology, Publications of the Laboratory of Paleontology, Moscow University USSR, 4, 325-332
[26] Mei, MX., M. Riaz,, ZW. Zhang, QF. Meng,H.Yuan2021. Diversified calcimicrobes in dendrolites of the Zhangxia Formation, Miaolingian Series (Middle Cambrian) of the North China craton. Journal of Palaeogeograhy 10, 8
[27] Moore L.S.,1992. Microbiology of an ephemeral pinnacle-mat forming benthic microbial community, Pamelup Pond, Lake Preston, Western Australia. Unpublished Report, Department of Microbiology University of Western Australia. 30 Pages.
[28] Petroff A.P.,M.S. Sim,A. Maslov,M. Krupenin,D.H. Rothman, and T. Bosak.2010. Biophysical basis for the geometry of conical stromatolites.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107, 9956-9961.
[29] Preiss W.V.,1971. The biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of South Australian Precambrianstromatolites. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Geology and Mineralogy, The University of Adelaide. https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/handle/2440/37781. accessed 4 June 2019.
[30] Preiss W.,1976. Intercontinental Correlationss, In Stromatolites ed. M.R. Walter, Developments in Sedimentology, 20, 359-370. Elsevier: Amsterdam.
[31] Rezak R.,1957. Stromatolites of the Belt series in Glacier National Park and vicinity, Montana. US .Geological Survey professional paper 294-D. US Government Printing Office. Washington.
[32] Riding R.,2011. Microbialites, stromatolites, and thrombolites. In: Encyclopedia of Geobiology. 635-654 Springer Netherlands.
[33] Serebryakov S.N.,1976. Biotic and abiotic factors controlling the morphology of Riphean stromatolites. In: MR Walter(Ed). Stromatolites, Developments in Sedimentology, 20 . 321- 326. Elsevier: Amsterdam.
[34] Semikhatov, MA., 1976. Experience in stromatolite studies in the U.S.S.R. In:MR Walter, (Ed). Stromatolites, Developments in Sedimentology, 20 . 337 - 257. Elsevier: Amsterdam.
[35] Semikhatov, M.A.,M.E. Raaben, 2000. Proterozoic stromatolite stratigraphy, Taxonomy and biostratigrapht. In: R.E Riding and S.M. ,(Eds). Microbial Sediments, 295-306. Springer, Netherlands.
[36] Semikhatov, M.A.,M.E. Raaben, 2000. Proterozoic stromatolite stratigraphy, taxonomy and biostratigraphy. In: R.E. Riding and S.M.(Eds). Microbial Sediments, . Awramik, 295-306. Springer, Netherlands
[37] Schopf, J.W,Y.K. Sovietov, 1976. Microfossils in Conophyton from the Soviet Union and their bearing on Precambrian biostratigraphy.Science, 193(4248), 143-146.
[38] Varejão F.T.,E.T. Fürsich, LV. Warren, S.A. Matos, M.G. Rodrigues, M.L. Assine, A.M.F. Sales, and. M.G. Simões. 2019. Stromatolite fields developed in a protected rocky coastline: The shallow carbonate ramp of the Aptian Romaldo Formation. Arripe Basin, NE Brazil. Sedimentary Geology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2019.06.003
[39] Vologdin, AG., 1962. The oldest algae of the USSR. Moscow: Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
[40] Walter M.R.,J. Bauld, and T.D. Brock,1976. Microbiology and Morphogenesis of Columnar Stromatolites (Conophyton, Vacerrilla) from Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. In: M.R. Walter, (Ed).Developments in Sedimentology, 20, Stromatolites, 273-310. Elsevier: Amsterdam.