叠层石中的海绿石化和黄铁矿化:以天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组为例

作为微生物碳酸盐岩的主要类型之一,叠层石是微生物席的主要建造物已成为共识。天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组二段叠层石生物礁灰岩发育,其中的细粒叠层石被前人解释为微生物席捕获碳酸盐泥的微生物建造物,使得其既不同于现代叠层石,也不同于显生宙尤其是寒武纪的叠层石。更为特殊的是,这些叠层石中的海绿石和黄铁矿代表着2种特殊的矿化作用,其中研究区普遍产出的黄铁矿,作为硫酸盐还原细菌的产物,是了解古代微生物的窗口;而发育在高能浅海的海绿石,产出环境不同于现代海绿石,不能作为慢速沉积环境的指示矿物,亦不具有沉积间断的地质意义。2种矿化作用表明铁岭组叠层石是由沉淀作用而非捕获碳酸盐泥形成,这为了解中元古代叠层石的形成和特征提供了一些有益的线索。     

现代碳酸盐叠层石的重要进展及意义

作为记录地球早期生命历史的代表物,叠层石已经从35亿年追溯到了古老的37亿年。叠层石为早期生命的存在提供了间接证据,特别是现代碳酸盐叠层石的形成,更加证实了叠层石是蓝细菌生物席的钙化建造物。在现代碳酸盐叠层石中,以下地区的碳酸盐叠层石经前人长期研究已取得一些进展:巴哈马台地的粗粒叠层石、澳大利亚超盐度环境中的细粒叠层石、巴西东南部超盐度潟湖中的细粒叠层石。基于前人的研究成果,通过对现代碳酸盐叠层石的生长机制,以及复杂的微生物活动和沉积过程的追溯,认为本溪火连寨剖面寒武系张夏组中部的叠层石生物丘与现代碳酸盐叠层石存在明显差异,说明现代叠层石的沉积模式还不能完全应用在古代叠层石中。因此,现代碳酸盐叠层石和古代叠层石的对比,可以进一步为了解寒武纪叠层石的构建以及微生物碳酸盐岩工厂提供丰富的思考途径。     

北京西郊寒武系凤山组叠层石生物层

叠层石是微生物碳酸盐岩的典型代表,同时也是岩石记录中的"藻席"(微生物席)的建造物。在北京西山寒武系芙蓉统凤山组下部,见一层厚度为2~3m的叠层石生物层。宏观上,该生物层主要为大型柱状叠层石所组成;微观上,表现为致密泥晶灰岩和颗粒泥晶灰岩构成的泥晶相叠层石。在叠层石内部,各种特殊的颗粒如底栖鲕粒、核形石和凝块石的发育,表明了微生物席内颗粒的多样性,而三叶虫骨屑的发育则意味着叠层石生长过程中较为强烈的泥晶粘聚作用;致密泥晶中的黄铁矿晶体,间接地反映了泥晶的异养细菌成因。因此,凤山组中的叠层石生物层,作为"贫乏骨骼的寒武纪风暴海"中典型的沉积学现象,成为较深水背景之中微生物造礁作用的典型实例,也成为理解微生物席内微生物成因颗粒多样性的典型岩石记录。     

天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组叠层石灰岩中原地海绿石的沉积学意义

天津蓟县剖面中元古界铁岭组二段叠层石灰岩中普遍发育海绿石。野外观察表明,海绿石主要分布在叠层石柱体间的泥晶灰岩中,呈薄膜状富集在叠层石鞘外缘;微观特征分析表明,海绿石呈不规则状的胶体形式,显示了原地海绿石的基本特点。电子探针的组分分析表明,铁岭组中的海绿石为中成熟度的海绿石。由于产在潮下高能柱状叠层石灰岩中,铁岭组中的海绿石并不反映低沉积速率或沉积间断的沉积条件,与现代海绿石的形成环境具有明显的差异。因此,中元古界铁岭组叠层石灰岩中的中成熟度原地海绿石是特殊沉积背景下的独特产物,为研究海绿石在地质历史时期产出的多样性提供了一个重要实例。     

河北承德寒武系凤山组叠层石生物丘中的沉积组构

河北承德路通沟剖面芙蓉统凤山组中部发育厚层块状叠层石生物丘,构成一个淹没不整合型层序的强迫型海退体系域,指示这些叠层石形成于中高能浅海环境。该生物丘宏观上主要由柱状叠层石组成,叠层石内部纹层较粗糙,在构成叠层石的致密泥晶和微亮晶组构中,还见到球粒、底栖鲕粒及凝聚颗粒等多种生物成因颗粒类型,代表着复杂的微生物活动特征,以此而区别于前寒武纪的叠层石。更为重要的是,叠层石生物丘中的致密泥晶基质中发育一些“石松藻(Lithocodium)”状的钙化蓝细菌菌落残余物,以及一些丝状钙化蓝细菌化石,指示了形成叠层石的微生物席为蓝细菌所主导的微生物席。因此,凤山组叠层石生物丘内复杂而特殊的碳酸盐岩沉积组构为研究叠层石形成过程中复杂的微生物代谢活动所产生的钙化作用机制提供了一个宝贵的地质实例。     

黔中晚震旦世微生物岩及其磷的富集

我国南方晚震旦世广泛发育有包括叠层石、层纹石和核形石等组成的微生物岩, 其中以叠层石最为普遍; 黔中地区的磷质叠层石总体上以层礁产出为特点, 其中的藻类微生物化石已被确定的有丝状和球状两大类共１７ 个种属, 而细菌微生物参与成岩成矿作用的证据也常能见到。微生物岩中的磷质主要富集在叠层石的柱体部位, 特别是富集在柱体的富藻纹层中; 从微生物的矿化特点看, 其成矿作用可分为直接的和间接的两种不同机制的类型。与同期形成的碳酸盐叠层石相比, 磷质叠层石, 无论在种类的多样性或发育程度上都显得丰富多彩得多, 这可能与磷质叠层石所处的有利环境, 特别是对营造叠层石的微生物的生长所需的富磷水介质环境密切相关。     

冀东高板河中元古代硫铁矿叠层石结构特征及其成因

冀东高板河中元古代多金属硫化物矿床呈层状和透镜状与容矿岩石整合产出,其中发育大量各种类型的硫铁矿叠层石,呈中、小型丘堆状分布在多金属硫化物矿床中。通过对其进行形态学及显微结构研究和激光拉曼光谱测试表明,高板河硫铁矿叠层石的形成环境明显不同于普通藻叠层石的生长环境,形成于局部强封闭还原的半深海环境中,远离透光带,是海底黑烟囱周围嗜热微生物周期性生长形成的原生微生物沉积构造。硫铁矿叠层石的形态与其所处的环境以及微生物的种类有关。嗜热微生物对于黄铁矿矿床的形成具有重要的促进作用。     

中元古代晚期浅海高能沉积环境中的海绿石:以天津蓟县剖面铁岭组为例

海绿石是一种富钾、富铁的含水层状铝硅酸盐矿物,在沉积学领域常被作为一种普遍的指相矿物。多年研究的结果表明,现代海绿石主要形成在慢速、弱还原的较深水环境中,而且还可以作为"凝缩段"的识别标志之一。天津蓟县剖面中元古界铁岭组第二段灰岩中的海绿石,产在高能叠层石岩礁之中,主要以胶体形式富集在叠层石和均一石的边界上,代表较为典型的原地海绿石;较高的氧化钾含量(大于8%)而显示出高成熟海绿石的特点。很明显,铁岭组二段灰岩中的原地高成熟海绿石,不但不能作为"凝缩段"的识别标志,而且也不是长时间地层间断的产物。由于形成在正常高能浅海环境,而且处于中元古代末期,与现代沉积中的海绿石存在较大的差异,可能代表了中元古代末期的正常浅海还处于含氧量不够充分的弱还原状态,最终使铁岭组灰岩中的海绿石成为前寒武纪海绿石产出的一个典型代表,也间接的表明了在漫长的地质历史演变过程中海绿石产出的多样性特点。     

微生物席的特征和属性：微生物席沉积学的理论基础

微生物席是一个特别的微生物群落,构成了地球上形成最早、延续时间最长的生态系,这已经成为共识。但是,由于微生物席生物构成的复杂性、发育环境和产物的多样性,对微生物席的属性还存在不同的答案。不同的答案意味着不同的研究领域,因为对一个基本问题,即“究竟什么是微生物席”,要获取一个单一的答案几乎是不可能的。微生物席定义的多重性答案,最终就成为地球生物学框架下一个年轻的沉积学分支——“微生物席沉积学”的概念体系和理论基础。最为重要的是,要穿越成岩作用“过滤器”,去了解地质历史时期的微生物席建造物的生长机理和发育过程,还存在若干的困难,这些困难表现在几个重要的现象之中,如：(1)寒武纪叠层石中的底栖鲕粒;(2)中元古界灰岩层面上特别的MISS(微生物诱发的沉积构造);(3)中元古界叠层石白云岩序列中的凝块石。因此,基于微生物席的属性和特征所蕴含的微生物席的多样化定义,介绍微生物席沉积学的理论体系,对于深入理解这一年轻分支学科的现状和进一步发展具有特别重要的意义。     

北京西郊下苇甸剖面寒武系叠层石中的底栖鲕粒:基本特征和重要意义

鲕粒是碳酸盐岩中最普遍的包覆颗粒之一,其成因一直是地质学家们关注的重要科学问题之一,对解释沉积环境具有重要的意义。北京西郊下苇甸剖面寒武系发育多期叠层石生物丘(层),对其进行研究发现,在崮山组上部和凤山组下部叠层石生物丘(层)中发育有大量的底栖鲕粒。分析其产出特征及微观组构形态,认为底栖鲕粒的形成与微生物作用有密切的关系,更多地支持了鲕粒微生物成因的观点,同时也增加了碳酸盐颗粒的多样性。在前人研究的基础上,追索该发现的科学含义,为深入了解微生物碳酸盐岩的形成与微生物席沉积学提供有益的线索。     

Important Development and Significance of Modern Carbonate Stromatolites

Stromatolite, as the representative of recorder in the early life history of the Earth, has been traced back from 3.5 billion years to 3.7 billion years ago. Stromatolites do provide indirect evidence for the existence of early life on the Earth, especially the composition of modern carbonate stromatolites, which further proves that stromatolites are calcified structures of cyanobacterial mats. Among the modern carbonate stromatolites, the following examples have been studied for a long time: Coarse stromatolites on the platform of Bahamas, fine stromatolites in the ultra-salinity environment of Australia and ultra-salinity lagoon of southeastern Brazil. Based on the predecessors' research results, by tracing the growth mechanism of modern carbonate stromatolites and the complex microbial activities and deposition processes, the formation of stromatolites in the middle of the Zhangxia Formation of Cambrian in the Huolianzhai section of Benxi is obviously different from that of modern carbonate stromatolites, which indicates that the sedimentary model of modern stromatolites cannot be fully applied in the ancient stromatolites. Therefore, the comparison between modern carbonate stromatolites and ancient stromatolites provides a rich way to further understand the construction of Cambrian stromatolites and microbial carbonate factory.     

Fine‐grained agglutinated elongate columnar stromatolites: Tieling Formation,ca 1420 Ma,North China

The Mesoproterozoic Tieling Formation, near Jixian, northern China, contains thick beds of vertically branched, laterally elongate, columnar stromatolites. Carbonate mud is the primary component of both the stromatolites and their intervening matrix. Mud abundance is attributed to water column ‘whiting’ precipitation stimulated by cyanobacterial photosynthesis. Neomorphic microspar gives the stromatolites a ‘streaky’ microfabric and small mud flakes are common in the matrix. The columns consist of low‐relief, mainly non‐enveloping, laminae that show erosive truncation and well‐defined repetitive lamination. In plan view, the columns form disjunct elongate ridges <10 cm wide separated by narrow matrix‐filled runnels. The stromatolite surfaces were initially cohesive, rather than rigid, and prone to scour, and are interpreted as current aligned microbial mats that trapped carbonate mud. The pervasive ridge–runnel system suggests scale‐dependent biophysical feedback between: (i) carbonate mud supply; (ii) current duration, strength and direction; and (iii) growth and trapping by prolific mat growth. Together, these factors determined the size, morphology and arrangement of the stromatolite columns and their laminae, as well as their branching patterns, alignment and ridge–runnel spacing. Ridge–runnel surfaces resemble ripple mark patterns, but whether currents were parallel and/or normal to stromatolite alignment remains unclear. The formation and preservation of Tieling columns required plentiful supply of carbonate mud, mat‐building microbes well‐adapted to cope with this abundant sediment, and absence of both significant early lithification and bioturbation. These factors were time limited, and Tieling stromatolites closely resemble coeval examples in the Belt‐Purcell Supergroup of Laurentia. The dynamic interactions between mat growth, currents and sediment supply that determined the shape of Tieling columns contributed to the morphotypical diversity that characterizes mid–late Proterozoic branched stromatolites.     

现代叠层石的多样化构成:认识古代叠层石形成的关键和窗口*

自从Kalkowsky在1908年构筑了叠层石的术语之后,叠层石一直是地质学家采用不同方法研究和思考的主题,而且一直被当作证明地球早期生命历史的代表物而得到深入调查。叠层石确实为地球早期生命历史提供了间接而且复杂的证据,所以,现代叠层石确实代表着明显的生物信号而成为研究的焦点。最为引人注目的是,现代叠层石的多样化构成,确实表明了蓝细菌生物席建造了叠层石,而且进一步表明了微生物席转化成叠层石不是一个直接的作用过程。那些反映现代叠层石多样化构成的典型实例包括:(1)南极Untersee地区的湖泊相锥状泥质叠层石;(2)新西兰North群岛被称为煎锅湖的热水湖泊中以及美国黄石国家公园热泉中的硅质叠层石;(3)巴哈马台地、澳大利亚鲨鱼湾以及巴西东南部海湾碳酸盐沉积物构成的叠层石。由于蓝细菌微生物席是否代表了古代叠层石的形态学前体总是存在争议,而且在生命的图像中叠层石一直是一个迷惑的关键片段,因此,现代叠层石的多样化构成,将成为认识古代叠层石形成的关键和窗口。立足于前人的研究成果,追踪和总结现代叠层石的多样化构成,以及它们所代表的沉积作用和微生物新陈代谢活动丰富而复杂的信息,将不但丰富微生物沉积学的研究内容,还将拓宽沉积相分析的基本内容,对深入了解叠层石复杂的沉积学特征和生物学属性具有重要的科学意义。     

Stromatolites in the Late Ordovician Eureka Quartzite: implications for microbial growth and preservation in siliciclastic settings

Well-preserved siliciclastic domal stromatolites, up to 2 m wide and 1·5 m high, are found in a 10 to 15 m thick interval within the Late Ordovician Eureka Quartzite of Southern Nevada and Eastern California, USA. These stromatolites appear as either isolated features or patchy clusters that contain more than 70% by volume quartz grains; their association with planar, trough and herringbone cross-bedding suggests that they were formed in an upper shoreface environment with high hydraulic energy. In this environment, sand bars or dunes may have provided localized shelter for initial microbial mat colonization. Biostabilization and early lithification of microbial mats effectively prevented erosion during tidal flushing and storm surges, and the prevalence of translucent quartz sand grains permitted light penetration into the sediment, leading to thick microbial mat accretion and the formation of domal stromatolites. Decimetre-scale to metre-scale stromatolite domes may have served as localized shelter and nucleation sites for further microbial mat colonization, forming patchy stromatolite clusters. Enrichment of iron minerals, including pyrite and hematite, within dark internal laminae of the stromatolites indicates anaerobic mineralization of microbial mats. The occurrence of stromatolites in the Eureka Quartzite provides an example of microbial growth in highly stressed, siliciclastic sedimentary environments, in which microbial communities may have been able to create microenvironments promoting early cementation/lithification essential for the growth and preservation of siliciclastic stromatolites.     

Recent analog of gypsified microbial laminites and stromatolites in solar salt works and the Miocene gypsum deposits of Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Accumulation of microbial mats and stromatolites dominate in the crystallization ponds of solar salt works west of Alexandria, Egypt. These microbial mats are laminar in the permanent submerged part of the ponds. The microbial mats commonly form sites for growth of gypsum crystals during periods having higher salinity. In the dominant submerged part of the pond, domal stromatolites are common around groundwater seepage holes. In the shallow, intermittent margin of the ponds, the laminated microbial structure forms laterally close-linked hemispheroidal stromatolite type, with unidirectional and multidirectional ripple mark-like morphology on their surface. The microbial laminite and stromatolite types in the modern solar salt works are similar to the organic-rich Miocene gypsum beds of El-Barqan (west Alexandria, Egypt) and Rabigh (north Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). The Miocene organic-rich beds consist of interlayered dark-colored microbial laminae and light-colored gypsum laminae. These beds may have three different variations: regular even lamination, laterally closed-linked hemispheroidal stromatolites, and/or discrete hemispheroidal stromatolites. Petrographic examination of the microbial laminites and stromatolites in the solar salt works and the Miocene gypsum beds indicate that the dark-colored, organic-rich laminae are composed of micritized microbial laminae and/or brown organic filaments. In El-Barqan area, the light-colored gypsum-rich laminae are composed of either gypsum crystal fragments, or lenticular and prismatic gypsum. These gypsum crystals are either entrapped within the microbial filaments or are nucleated at the surface of the microbial laminae to form a radial pattern, whereas in Rabigh area, the light-colored gypsum-rich laminae are composed of secondary porphyrotopic, poikilotopic, or granular gypsum crystals. By comparison of the microbial structure in the Miocene gypsum beds with the recent occurrence of the microbial laminites and stromatolites in the solar salt works, it is demonstrated that the organic-rich Miocene gypsum beds were formed in a very shallow salina with slightly fluctuating brine levels.     

柴达木盆地中新世叠层石成因与古环境研究

柴达木盆地西部干柴沟一带发育了大量湖相叠层石，主要存在于新近纪中新世地层中。柴西地区的叠层石形态各异，成因各具特点，而且部分叠层石与现代叠层石完全不同而是更类似于前寒武时期的对应物，根据国内外叠层石研究的最新成果和成因分类标准，柴西地区主要发育了骨架、凝集和细粒叠层石。对应于不同的分类标准其成因也各不相同，细粒叠层石的形成主要是通过微生物自身的钙化作用和生物膜上过饱和碳酸盐等物质以及微生物的引发的沉淀作用；凝集型叠层石的形成主要与原核生物和真核藻类共同发挥粘附作用有关；骨架型叠层石的形成主要是真核藻类等的钙化与原地碳酸盐的沉淀综合作用的结果。柴达木盆地频繁变化的湖相水体条件和周围的构造运动是叠层石形态多样，成因各异的主要外部和环境因素。对各类叠层石的深入细致研究将对沉积学和环境学的研究提供宝贯的现代对应物。     

Microbial dolomite in the sabkha environment of the middle Cambrian in the Tarim Basin,NW China

In the Tarim Basin, dolomite, which formed during the middle Cambrian associated with evaporites, has been attributed to the sabkha-style dolomite formed during the syndepositional period. The sedimentary microfacies suggests dolomite formation in the middle Cambrian is an ancient analogue of the sabkha of Abu Dhabi. Poorly crystallised dolomite spheroids or ovoids within or on the surface of dolomite crystals are a common phenomenon that can be widely observed in different stromatolites in the upper part of the intertidal zone and strongly resemble the morphology in modern sabkha dolomite-producing microbial mats and in microbial culture experiments. These lines of evidence suggest organic substrates for dolomite nucleation. Dolomite formation in the middle Cambrian in the Tarim Basin has been considered a classic analogue for carbonate and evaporate assemblages. The extent of microbial dolomite in ancient sabkha environments is proposed as an alternative model for dolomite formation, in which the mineral properties of organic substrates play a crucial role.     

微生物成因鲕粒研究进展

鲕粒岩在古气候、古环境,以及古海洋领域有着独特的研究价值,然而学术界对于鲕粒成因目前仍没有统一认识.近年来,随着鲕粒形成过程中微生物诱导矿化证据的不断丰富,广为接受的"无机成因"观点正不断受到挑战.本论文从历史和当前视角,回顾了从"藻类参与"到"细菌参与",以及现在"有机矿化过程"在微生物成因鲕粒研究方面的历程,对鲕粒...     

Mass occurrence of benthic coccoid cyanobacteria and their role in the production of Neoarchean carbonates of South Africa

The sparse Archean fossil record is based almost entirely on carbonaceous remnants of microorganisms cellularly preserved due to their early post-mortem silicification. Hitherto as an exception, sedimentary carbonate rocks from the Neoarchean Nauga Formation of South Africa contain calcified microbial mats composed of microbiota closely resembling modern benthic colonial cyanobacteria (Chroococcales and Pleurocapsales). Their remains, visible under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) after etching of polished rock samples, comprise capsular envelopes, mucilage sheaths, and groups of cells mineralized by calcium carbonate with an admixture of Al–K–Mg–Fe silicates. The capsular organization of the mucilaginous sheaths surrounding individual cells and cell clusters forming colonies and the mode of mineralization are the characteristic common features of the Neoarchean microbiota described and their modern analogues. The new findings indicate massive production of calcium carbonates by benthic coccoid cyanobacteria in the Neoarchean, and offer a solution to the problem of the origin of Archean carbonate platforms, stromatolites and microbial reefs.