Hematized microbial mats thrived in terminal Paleoproterozoic shallow seawaters: identification and implications
ZHAO Shike1,2, SHI Xiaoying1,2, SUN Longfei2, XIE Baozeng1,3, TANG Dongjie1,3
1 State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing 100083,China; 2 School of Earth Sciences and Resources,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing 100083,China; 3 Institute of Earth Sciences,China University of Geosciences(Beijing),Beijing 100083,China
Abstract：Microbially mediated iron oxidation has been considered as one of the most important mechanisms for the formation of Precambrian iron formation and marine red bed. However,the evidence of microbial mediation is rarely recorded through Earth history. To reveal the potential roles of microbes in the Precambrian iron cycling,we chose microbially induced sedimentary structure(MISS)from the late Paleoproterozoic Dahongyu Formation,North China,as target,and conducted a comprehensive investigation in sedimentology and mineralogy. In this formation,sand cracks are the dominated type of MISS,indicating the existence of abundant microbial mats on the intertidal to supratidal zones previously. Microscopic observations show that the non-microbial mat layer contains abundant in situ to shortly transported glauconite,indicating suboxic and iron-rich shallow seawater and porewater chemistry. In contrast,the microbial mats show significant hematization,indicative of more oxygenated conditions. Considering the differences in microbial activity and mineralogy between the microbial mat and adjacent non-microbial mat layers,we propose that microbial mediation is an important mechanism leading to the oxidation of Fe(Ⅱ)in the weakly oxygenated ferruginous shallow seawater. This study provides important evidence for microbial mediation in Fe(Ⅱ)oxidation and may shed light on the formation of Precambrian marine red bed and iron formation.
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