硅质碎屑岩中的微生物席相关构造——联接现代与过去的纽带

微生物通过自身生命活动可以在硅质碎屑物上形成微生物席.微生物席具有黏结性、柔韧性、抗剥蚀性等特征,与物理营力相互作用可以形成一系列独特的原生沉积构造,即微生物诱发的沉积构造(MISS).形成和保存MISS的基本条件包括经历较低的变质程度、发育于海退—海侵的转折点、出现在有利的“微生物席沉积相”中.微生物席本身很难保存在岩石序列中,所以识别石化MISS具有一定难度.与现代环境中发育的MISS具有相似的几何形态和包含古代微生物席组构是识别石化MISS的有效途径.微生物生长、稳化、障积、捕获和黏结作用可以形成形态各异的MISS,根据这些作用和特征可以将其划分为5大类17小类.对保存在硅质碎屑岩中的微生物诱发的原生沉积构造和现代潮坪中发育的MISS进行综合对比研究,有利于微生物席沉积学的发展,也为进一步理解古代硅质碎屑岩沉积环境提供重要线索.     

豫西苗岭统馒头组二段皱饰构造与遗迹化石共生特征*

埃迪卡拉纪以来,微生物与后生动物之间呈此消彼长的关系,但在寒武纪苗岭世却出现了微生物成因沉积构造和后生动物扰动构造短暂共存的现象。笔者在豫西馒头组二段下部识别出包括皱饰构造与微生物席裂构造在内的2种微生物成因沉积构造,对皱饰构造与遗迹化石的共生关系进行了分类,建立了席上足辙迹(Monomorphichnus henanensis)与牧食迹(Jinningichnus badaowanensis)、席下水平漫游迹(Planolites montanus)、席下深层泥岩中生物扰动共3种微生物席与后生动物的共生模式和生态演化模型。上述研究表明,具有特殊环境耐受性的“机会主义”动物在食物来源较为宽松的潮坪环境中与微生物席共存,这种微生物席与后生动物短暂而“和谐”的共存关系不仅延续了埃迪卡拉纪双方的部分共生特征,且在以混合底为主导的显生宙生态环境中得到了进一步变化与发展。     

地球上最老的硅质碎屑潮汐沉积中的微生物席状体

南非3.2Ga的古太古界Moodies群砂岩中新近发现的微生物,与保存在燧石中的古太古界叠层石和细菌细胞化石的形态和成因完全不同。皱纹构造、泥裂及旋卷构造记录了先前存在有效地将沉积物稳定在已知最古老的硅质碎屑潮坪上的微生物席状体。在薄片中,沉积构造显示出微生物席状体呈地毯状、层纹状构造特征。负δ13C同位素比值为(-20.1~-21.5)±0.2‰,与保存在纹理中碳的生物成因一致。Moodies群沉积构造的生物成因经整个地球发展史(包括现今)中类似潮汐环境同样的生物群特征的比较研究所证实。研究表明,硅质碎屑潮坪环境曾是至少32亿年的繁盛微…     

辽宁中元古代初期粗碎屑岩中微生物砂质颗粒的发现及古环境意义

微生物席成因构造(microbial induced sedimentary structures, MISS)是由微生物与沉积物相互作用形成的生物沉积构造,表现形式有变余波痕、皱饰构造、微生物席碎片、纺锤状或次圆状收缩裂缝等。首次在华北地台东北部辽宁兴城中元古代初期常州沟组底部粗碎屑岩交错层理面上发现了大量的微生物砂质颗粒,在中元古代底部粗碎屑岩中发现大量微生物砂质碎片。这一发现对于了解华北地台MISS的活跃时代以及恢复中元古代早期粗碎屑岩的形成古环境有重要的科学意义,特别是为华北地台古元古代、中元古代的地层划分与对比提供一定的生物地层学参考。发现的微生物砂质颗粒大小在0.1~0.2 mm,形态以球形为主。这些微生物砂质颗粒形成于静水环境的潮上带或泥坪之中的微生物席底,在剧烈的构造运动以及海侵初期高频的海平面运动中被风暴、海啸等灾难性事件破坏,并随着退潮水流被搬运至发育交错层理的潮道区域,与粗碎屑物质一起沉积。这些被风暴破坏的微生物砂质颗粒在搬运过程中被磨圆并产生一定的分选。     

河南宜阳地区陆相二叠系—三叠系界线附近 微生物成因沉积构造特征及意义

有关微生物成因沉积构造及其生物地质过程的研究近年来发展迅速,成为深刻认识地球早期生命演化以及生物与环境相互作用过程的重要桥梁。目前报道的微生物成因沉积构造主要集中在海相沉积中,而陆相碎屑岩沉积中的微生物成因沉积构造研究较少。本文介绍了河南省宜阳地区二叠系—三叠系界线附近陆相碎屑岩中发育的以微生物席生长特征、微生物席破坏特征为主的微生物成因沉积构造,认为这些沉积构造的发育与二叠纪末地质灾变事件造成的特殊水体化学环境和严重退化的生态系统相关,属陆相环境中的"错时相"沉积。研究区微生物成因沉积构造的发现对于二叠纪末地质灾变期生物绝灭与复苏奥秘的探索、陆相地层的划分、海相—陆相地层的对比均具有重要意义。     

河南宜阳下三叠统刘家沟组微生物成因沉积构造演化及其对古环境变化的响应*

河南宜阳地区下三叠统刘家沟组红色砂岩中发育数十种微生物成因沉积构造(MISS),如皱饰构造、脱水裂痕、微生物席碎片等。按照其形态特征的演化可分为4个不同的组合,由下往上依次为皱饰构造组合、隆脊构造组合、小型脱水裂痕组合和大型脱水裂痕组合,其分别反映了不同的古环境与古气候: (1)皱饰构造组合反映了弱氧化的温暖、潮湿环境;(2)隆脊构造组合反映了富氧的温暖、潮湿环境;(3)小型脱水裂痕组合反映了弱氧化的温暖、半干旱环境;(4)大型脱水裂痕组合反映了富氧的炎热、半干旱—干旱环境。依据研究区的地球化学特征和岩石学特征,认为早三叠世宜阳地区的古环境由湿润、温暖、弱氧化向炎热、半干旱、富氧转变。两者比较表明,宜阳地区微生物成因沉积构造的发育与演化是对早三叠世陆相古环境细微变化的联动响应。     

微生物形成的原生沉积构造研究进展综述

早在上世纪60年代，沉积学家Pettijohn和Potter曾经将形成原生沉积构造的地质作用划分为剥蚀作用、搬运作用、沉积作用和变形作用。在沉积期间和沉积之后到沉积物还未固结之前由上述作用所产生的沉积构造被定义为“原生沉积构造”，包括各种类型的层理、层面上的各种作用痕迹以及各种变形现象。在该分类之中，叠层石被定义为突出沉积面的正生长构造，这种构造由微生物与同沉积胶结作用共同构建而成。上世纪90年代中期至今，随着研究程度的深入，沉积学家们越来越认识到除了叠层石以外，微生物还会形成一种并不突出于底层面的原生沉积构造，并被认为是微生物席或微生物膜与各种物理作用营力共同作用的产物。这些作用营力包括剥蚀作用、搬运作用、沉积作用和变形作用。该类沉积构造被定义为微生物形成的原生沉积构造并被归为第五类原生沉积构造。正如叠层石主要产在前寒武纪以及显生宙未受到后生动物强烈改造的浅水环境中一样，微生物形成的原生沉积构造也主要发育在前寒武纪，以及显生宙的一些未受到后生动物强烈改造的潮坪和潟湖等环境之中。因此，该类沉积构造（第五类原生沉积构造）的研究，对于前寒武纪沉积环境重塑具有重要意义。燕山地区元古界串岭沟组和大红峪组碎屑岩中的变余波痕、皱饰构造和纺锤状裂缝，是碎屑岩中微生物形成的原生沉积构造的代表； 高于庄组第三段非叠层石碳酸盐岩（以灰岩为主）层面上发育大型皱饰构造和变余波痕，是碳酸盐岩中微生物形成的原生沉积构造的代表。这些沉积构造的发现和初步研究，为今后进一步深入研究奠定了良好的基础。     

陆源碎屑岩中微生物诱发的沉积构造的成因类型及其分类体系

当蓝绿藻被修正为蓝细菌的时候,多年使用的藻席的概念就被修正为微生物席。科学家们长期观察和研究的结果表明：微生物席实际上是一种多种生物共生的、而且是同营养生物的同生微生物群落,这个复杂的微生物群落几乎包含了曾经出现在地球上的所有的新陈代谢途径。尽管还存在一些争议,多年来认为碳酸盐叠层石是“藻席”（微生物席）的建造物的理念,促使沉积学家们在碎屑岩中寻找微生物席的生命活动留下的痕迹。随着对早年描述的一些可疑的遗迹化石的重新解释,产生了席底和席底构造的新概念;也随着现代和化石记录中更多的与微生物席相关的沉积构造在碎屑岩中的发现,从而出现了将碎屑岩中的微生物诱发的沉积构造（Microbial induced sedimentary structure;简称为MISS构造）归到第五类原生沉积构造的新认识;在强调了包含一个较宽泛的物理、化学和生物过程的基础上,微生物诱发的沉积构造还被进一步归为微生物席生长、新陈代谢、破坏、腐烂和成岩过程几个大类。成因类型的挖掘和分类体系的建立,促进了在地球生物学框架下的碎屑岩微生物席沉积学的发展。     

微生物席成因构造形态组合的古环境意义: 以华北南缘中-新元古代为例

微生物席成因构造(microbially induced sedimentary structures, MISS)是由微生物与沉积物相互作用形成的生物-沉积构造, 可作为早期微生物群活动的重要标识, 但对其指示古环境的研究尚显不足.华北地台南部中-新元古代汝阳群(Pt₂)和洛峪群(Pt₃)以近岸浅水陆源碎屑沉积为主, 其中发育大量MISS, 包括多向波痕、微生物席稳化波痕、微生物席碎片、微生物席平滑波痕、多种微生物席脱水形成的砂裂及不规则网状生长脊等.研究表明, 在潮坪环境中MISS最为发育.地势差异对水动力、基底暴露、水分补给和沉积条件等环境因素具有显著控制作用, 影响微生物席的发育与结构, 因此, MISS的形态组合特征能够反映沉积微相变化.研究发现, 在潮上带以微生物席脱水形成的砂裂构造为主, 潮间带上部以破坏-改造型构造为主, 潮间带下部-潮下带一般少见原位MISS, 但可见再沉积微生物席碎片.据潮间带下部至潮上带上部MISS产出类型及其形态组合分析, 识别了4个MISS形态组合带, MISS形态组合由潮间带下部至潮上带上部的变化反映了古地形由低到高的明显变化.      

前寒武纪与微生物席相关的粉砂岩岩墙——以天津蓟县古元古界串岭沟组为例

在天津蓟县剖面古元古界串岭沟组下部的环潮坪相粉砂质泥页岩细粒沉积中,发育许多粉砂岩岩墙。由于该粉砂岩岩墙在层面上和层内具有特别的形态,因而对其成因具有多种解释:在层面上呈纺锤状粉砂岩裂缝以及在层内呈砂质充填管形态,从而被认为是最古老的后生动物遗迹化石;在层内呈弯弯曲曲的粉砂岩岩墙以及明显的流体化作用特点,所以又被解释为地震振荡作用形成的液化砂岩脉。显微镜下,这种岩墙具有明显的富残余有机质构成的边界,以及由粉砂颗粒相对聚集所显示出的明显的流体化作用特征;再加上与这种粉砂岩岩墙共生的沉积构造主要是皱饰构造,局部还发育变余波痕,由此表明沉积面上曾经发育过微生物席。因此,这种粉砂岩岩墙应该解释为沉积面在曾经被微生物席封闭的情况下,相对富含有机质的细粒沉积物在早期成岩作用过程中所发生的脱气作用和脱水作用的产物,最终可以归为由微生物形成的沉积构造的一种类型。     

Microbially-induced sedimentary wrinkle structures and possible impact of microbial mats for the enhanced preservation of dinosaur tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation near Qijiang (Chongqing,China)

Recently, a paleosurface with microbially-induced sedimentary wrinkle structures that are associated with abundant, well-preserved, iguanodon-type, tridactyl tracks has been documented at the Lotus tracksite near Qijiang (Chongqing, China) in fluvial deposits of the Lower Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation. Two different wrinkle structure types are identified and described from a macroscopic point of view and also by applying microstructure analysis with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and other high-resolution instruments, that detected sheath-like and globular organic matter and thus confirm the microbial origin of the observed wrinkle structures. A model for the formation of the two microbial mat induced wrinkle structure types and associated preservation of dinosaur tracks is proposed. Finally, some human footprints were left in comparable modern environments covered with a thin microbial mat, and they are used as a modern analog in order to better understand the track formation and preservation mechanisms of the dinosaur tracks of the Lotus tracksite.     

The paleoenvironmental distribution of Phanerozoic wrinkle structures

Wrinkle structures are microbially induced sedimentary structures that are known to have formed in ancient marine siliciclastic environments. This study reviews the sedimentary context and paleoenvironmental distribution of these sedimentary structures throughout three distinct intervals of the Phanerozoic: the Cambrian, the post-Cambrian Paleozoic, and the Lower Triassic. During these times, wrinkle structures are found primarily within two sedimentary environments, storm-dominated subtidal environments and the intertidal zone. Subtidal occurrences of wrinkle structures during the post-Ordovician Phanerozoic only appear to occur during intervals of environmental stress, while earlier examples from the Cambrian and lowermost Ordovician likely formed prior to significant increases in extent and depth of bioturbation that hallmark most of the Phanerozoic. Intertidal examples occur regardless of severe environmental stress, and may have formed under low levels of bioturbation due to inherent vagaries of a marginal marine setting. These environmental preferences appear to be conservative throughout the Phanerozoic, and may very well extend throughout Earth's history.     

从席底构造到第五类原生沉积构造:沉积学中具有重要意义的概念

发育微生物席或微生物膜的沉积底被形象地称为席底,在席底上由于微生物席的发育使沉积物富黏性而抗水流改造,并在沉积面和沉积层内形成一系列奇形怪状的原生沉积构造,如变余波痕、皱饰构造、微生物席碎片、纺锤状或次圆状收缩裂缝等等,这些构造都归为席底构造;与席底相对应,那些不发育微生物席或微生物膜的沉积面则称为混合底,在混合底上单个沉积颗粒受到水流剪切与变形作用的改造而形成诸如正常波痕等原生沉积构造,这些沉积构造则归为混合底构造。席底和席底构造的概念很重要,用来专指微生物沉积作用的产物而区别于混合底和混合底构造。从沉积学概念的演变方面分析,混合底构造就是1964年Pettijohn和Potter所定义的原生沉积构造,他们曾经将其归为4大类并且沿用至今;席底构造也就是微生物形成的(或相关的)原生沉积构造,由于其在形成机理和形态上与Pettijohn和Potter所定义的原生沉积构造存在较大的区别,Noffke 2001年认为其应该具有合适的分类位置,所以就将席底构造归为“第五类原生沉积构造”并纳入Pettijohn和Potter 1964年的原生沉积构造的分类体系之中。从席底构造到第五类原生沉积构造,概念的演变表明了万能的微生物在沉积作用过程中的重要性以及沉积学家对微生物沉积作用认识的深入。这些相关的沉积构造及其所形成的席底,就像叠层石(被当作正生长原生沉积构造)一样在前寒武纪地层之中较为普遍。随着后生动物的大规模出现而造成的寒武纪“农艺革命”(Agronomic revolution)的开始,显生宙的席底及其相关的席底构造多出现在那些不适宜后生动物居住的地方并大多被混合底及其相关的混合底构造所替代;因此,与微生物相关的原生沉积构造,除熟知的叠层石以外,在席底上发育的一系列原生沉积构造,由于其具有特别的指相意义并有助于古环境重塑而被很自然地归到“第五类原生沉积构造”。该类构造由于其在前寒武纪的普遍性和显生宙的局限分布性,特别是在生物大灭绝事件之后的灾难性泛滥,对于研究地球表层环境的演变具有重要意义。所以说,从席底构造到第五类原生沉积构造,是近年来沉积学发展过程中所出现的较为重要的基本概念。根据这一重要概念,对前寒武纪地层中一些常常被认为是遗迹化石、长期以来存在的“臼齿状构造谜”(Molar-tooth structure enigma)等奇形怪状的沉积构造的成因以及从前寒武纪到显生宙地层中均有分布的特殊的纹理化构造等,将会得到一些更加合理的认识;另一方面,关于微生物形成的原生沉积构造的研究,对于了解地球表层生物变化与沉积变化之间的复杂关系将会发现更多的新问题而得到进一步的思考与研究。     

臼齿状构造成因新解——以天津蓟县高于庄组第三段为例

臼齿状构造（Molar—tooth structure）是一种主要发育在前寒武纪非叠层石碳酸盐岩中的沉积构造。由于形态多样且缺乏现代的类比物,国内外地质学家曾先后建立多种模式来解释其成因,这些模式大致可以归为两类：地震液化模式和生物成因模式。近年来,一种新的模式：气泡膨胀与迁移模式得到了地质学家的广泛引用。产在天津蓟县剖面高于庄组第三段非叠层石碳酸盐岩沉积序列上部的臼齿状构造,虽然可以应用气泡膨胀与迁移模式来解释其形成机制,但是,考虑到臼齿状构造可能是微生物席封闭沉积面所激发的气泡膨胀与迁移作用的产物,并且气泡可能是由于细粒沉积中微生物提供的有机质的裂解作用的结果,表明了臼齿状构造的形成间接地与微生物生命活动存在关联。因此,可以将臼齿状构造归为席底构造（第五类原生沉积构造）的一种类型。     

辽宁兴城中元古界常州沟组砂岩中微生物成因沉积构造

辽宁兴城夹山中元古界常州沟组潮间带相砂岩层面产出裂隙状构造。这些构造由0.8~3 cm长的纺锤状短裂隙和超过7 cm的长延伸裂隙组成,孤立为主,部分相连。通过与类似的层面裂隙和现代微生物席干缩裂隙的比较分析,将其解释为微生物成因沉积构造分类体系中的收缩裂隙（Shrinkage crack）,并参考席裂多边形（Mat-crack polygon）的术语称其为席裂（Mat-crack）。微生物席在脱水不充分的情况下形成纺锤状席裂,脱水充分的情况下形成席裂多边形。这些构造在常州沟组的出现,表明微生物生态系统在华北克拉通中元古代海侵初期已经开始影响古海岸带的地质作用,这对于恢复燕山裂陷槽盆地的生物—沉积作用和环境演化具有重要意义。     

Enterolithic folds in evaporites as microbially induced sedimentary structures: New model of formation and interpretation in the geological record

Enterolithic structures are stratigraphically localized folds in gypsum beds found in certain saline evaporitic sedimentary units in a wide variety of basins. Different models of formation have been proposed, all related to inorganic processes. These models include: diagenetic transformation of gypsum beds producing either displacive growth of crystals or volume changes; mechanical folding caused by compressional stress; and folding produced by slumping. The analysis of three Cenozoic evaporite sequences in Spain reveals that none of the previous models explains their origin and existence. In these outcrops, gypsum enterolithic structures occur in horizontal beds with parallel troughs and crests of the folds. They appear in shoreline facies of lacustrine environments and did not undergo major diagenetic transformations after the primary lithification of the original sediment. Based on these observations, together with the study of a modern analogue in Minorca, Spain, a new model is proposed for the genesis of enterolithic structures. This new model is based on the existence of a microbial mat exposed to brine concentration–dilution cycles and strong wind events. The high wind flow events enhanced folding of the microbial mat that became subaerially exposed and lithified due to subsequent evaporation. Therefore, the presence of enterolithic structures could be used as an indicator of shallow water environmental conditions subject to variations in brine concentration in areas with strong wind flow events. Previous studies of some evaporitic successions should be revisited, taking into account the proposed model, which would imply new depositional environment interpretations. At the same time, the proposed model could explain the existence of Kinneyia‐type structures, also known as wrinkle structures, formed beneath microbial mats in peritidal zones. Moreover, considering enterolithic structures as microbially induced sedimentary structures could be useful as evidence of microbial life in the ancient geological record and on other planets such as Mars.     

Wrinkle marks: An intertidal sedimentary structure due to aseismic soft-sediment loading

The structures have a wide distribution intertidally in the macrotidal Severn Estuary and inner Bristol Channel, occurring on the active sedimentary surface chiefly in association with a millimetre-scale sand-over-mud doublet. The sand surface is marked by depressions and ridges, of a wide variety of shapes and orientations relative to slope, that are matched antithetically by ridges and depressions on the mud-sand interface below. The sand layer consequently takes the form of a series of touching to detached pillow-shaped masses, whose centres lie 2–4 sand-layer thicknesses apart. Wrinkle marks originate soon after the emergence of the sedimentary surface into the atmosphere, and are considered to be soft-sediment deformation structures on account of their (1) occasional displacement and/or severance of early-emergence surface organic trails and feeding marks; (2) similarity in shape and internal structure to pseudo-nodules recorded from the field and produced experimentally; and (3) association with gravitationally unstable sediment layers in settings that favour the vigorous seepage of pore water through water-logged sediments. Owing to their origin at the sedimentary surface, wrinkle marks appear to be preserved mainly as surface markings on eroded and (discordantly) reburied mud-sand interfaces.     

虹湾东缘雁列式月岭构造带形貌特征与成因模式研究

月岭作为月海中一种广泛分布的线性构造,多表现为褶皱逆冲推覆为主的构造样式,且具雁列式展布。因此,月岭对月表区域乃至全月的构造应力分析有着非常重要的指示作用,但其成因机制不清。虹湾是中国嫦娥绕月探测工程研究的重点区域,区域内最明显的线性构造是虹湾东缘呈雁列式展布的月岭构造带,对这一月岭构造带的研究将有助于了解虹湾地区的区域应力特征和构造演化过程。文中通过对虹湾东缘雁列式月岭构造带的高分辨率影像进行解译并与其他区域对比分析,结合虹湾地区已有地质资料和前人提出的相关构造演化模式及目前最新的研究成果,认为虹湾东缘雁列式月岭构造带受虹湾撞击坑坑缘基底和表面玄武岩性影响,虹湾撞击盆地沉降引起的径向挤压应力和表面熔岩流导致的挤压应力由于方向与大小的差异,共同导致该月岭构造带呈类似走滑剪切中右阶左行的形貌特点。在此基础上讨论了此月岭构造带的演化过程,并根据月岭与撞击坑的交切关系,发现虹湾东缘月岭构造带在哥白尼纪仍在继续活动。     

Columnar microbialites of the upper Miocene of Mallorca (Spain): A new morphogenetic model based on concurrent accretion and bioturbation – uncommon or overlooked?

Bioturbation has long been considered an antagonist of microbialite development and preservation, because metazoan grazing and burrowing destroy benthic microbial communities. However, metazoan bioturbation, in conjunction with microbial accretion, may have had a significant role in the morphogenesis of some columnar microbialites, as suggested by the case study presented and by some Phanerozoic and Upper Proterozoic analogues discussed here. Late Miocene in age, the studied microbial biostrome developed in a western Mediterranean restricted shallow-water platform dominated by grainy sediments and with a notable influence of bioturbation. This study is focused on the complex accretionary history of the columnar microbialite biostrome and on its striking dark grey colour, which is attributed to Mn-oxyhydroxides precipitated during meteoric diagenesis linked to subaerial exposure. The characteristic columnar structure of the microbialite biostrome has features consistent with an accretionary origin of the columns, but also has features suggesting metazoan disruption. Therefore, a new morphogenetic model for columnar microbialites is presented, highlighting the concomitant roles of microbial accretion, bioturbation and grainy sediment infill of the intercolumn space. Whether this model is an exception or a rule, should be tested on other examples of Phanerozoic and Upper Proterozoic columnar microbialites. Nevertheless, this model is a step forward in understanding the complex microbe–metazoan interactions as constructive coexistence rather than just as destructive competition.