Advances in Earth Science ›› 2013, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (4): 467-476. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2013.04.0467

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The Mat Related Structures Preserved within Siliciclastic Rock Record: The Connection of Now and Past

Guo Rongtao   

  1. School of Earth Sciences and Resource, China University of Geosciences, Beijing100083, China
  • Received:2012-06-28 Revised:2012-12-06 Online:2013-04-10 Published:2013-04-10

Guo Rongtao. The Mat Related Structures Preserved within Siliciclastic Rock Record: The Connection of Now and Past[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2013, 28(4): 467-476.

Microbial community can form microbial mat on siliciclastic sediments. For the soft, adhesive and erosion-resistant features of mat, under the impact of physical sediment dynamics, the siliciclastic sediments covered by mat can form a series of special primary sedimentary structures, which are called as “Microbially Induced Sedimentary Structures (MISS)” by Noffke. The basic conditions of forming and preserving MISS, include experiencing lower metamorphic grade, correlating with turning point of regression-transgression, and occurring in favorable “microbial mat depositional facies”. As microbial mat can hardly preserve down in rock sequences,  the recognition of fossil MISS is difficult. Similar geometry to the modern counterparts and including microtextures related to ancient mat, are effective ways to recognize fossil MISS. Microbial growth, biostabilization, baffling, trapping and binding can form many different types of MISS. According to these processions and their characteristics, MISS can be divided into five classes and 17 subclasses. The comparative study of fossil MISS preserved within siliciclastic rock record and their modern counterparts, can not only promote the development of microbial mat sedimentology, but also provide important clues for further understanding of the ancient siliciclastic sedimentary environment.

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