NDLI: Microbialite formation in southern Sinai (Egypt)

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Basso, Daniela Bracchi, Valentina Alice Favalli, Andrea emi
Copyright Year	2012
Abstract	Ongoing microbialite formation is described at two previously unreported sites in southern Sinai, Egypt. Samples were collected in the peritidal tropical environment of Nabq Bay and Hidden Bay (southern Sinai, Egypt). Field observations and sample analyses show evidence of both sediment trapping and biostabilization in bacterial mucilaginous sheaths and microbially induced mineralization, producing a suite of increasingly lithified material: from agglomerated, consolidated sand to lithified crusts and oncoids. Thin-sections show evidence of bacteria (cyanobacteria and sulphate-reducing bacteria) among the constituent grains in the form of gelatinous filaments (green and red sheaths), and microalgal colonies along the outer edge, accompanied by a very high grade of clast alteration. The alternation of planar to irregular dark, superposed layers, and clastic layers is visible at the surface and/or inside some crusts. Widespread filaments of Schizothrix among grains have been identified, as well as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), sheaths stabilizing particles, and calcareous tubular encrustations around cyanobacteria filaments. Carbonate precipitates include diffuse micrite, microcrystals of high-Mg calcite precipitating in the EPS matrix, and acicular aragonite as isopachous rims around grains. Cementation is accompanied by partial dissolution and progressive alteration of original grain boundaries. We describe four microbialite categories on the basis of their macroscopic morphology combined with different texture and lithification grade. The occurrence of the southern Sinai microbialites is explained by the interplay of local sedimentary dynamics and accommodation space in a peritidal tropical environment undergoing large temperature and salinity variations.
Starting Page	7
Ending Page	18
Page Count	12
File Format	PDF
ISSN	01729179
Journal	Facies
Volume Number	59
Issue Number	1
e-ISSN	16124820
Language	English
Publisher	Springer-Verlag
Publisher Date	2012-09-15
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Microbialite Stromatolites Oncoids Cyanobacteria Sinai Red Sea Sedimentology Biogeosciences Geochemistry Paleontology Ecology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Geology Stratigraphy Paleontology

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