Characterization of the Microbial Dolomite of the Upper Sinian Dengying Formation in the Hanyuan Area of Sichuan Province, China

The algal dolostone of the Upper Sinian Dengying Formation (corresponding to the Ediacaran system) in the Upper Yangtze Platform of China possesses a rich diversity of microorganisms and is an ideal site for the study of ancient microbial dolomite. We focused on algal dolostone and its microbial dolomite in the Hanyuan area of Sichuan Province, China. The macroscopic petrological features, microscopic morphology, texture characteristics of the fossil microorganisms and microbial dolomite, and geochemical characteristics were investigated. We found rich fossil microorganisms and microbial dolomites in the laminated, stromatolithic, uniform and clotted (algal) dolostones. The microorganisms present were mainly body fossils of cyanobacteria (including Renalcis, Girvanella, Nanococcus, and Epiphyton) and their trace fossils (including microbial mats (biofilms), algal traces, and spots). In addition, there was evidence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), moderately halophilic aerobic bacteria, and red algae. The microbial dolomites presented cryptocrystalline textures under polarizing microscope and nanometer-sized granular (including spherulitic and pene-cubical granular) and (sub) micron-sized sheet-like, irregular, spherical and ovoidal morphologies under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The microbial dolomites were formed by microbially induced mineralization in the intertidal zone and lagoon environments during the depositional and syngenetic stages and microbially influenced mineralization in the supratidal zone environment during the penecontemporaneous stage. The microbial metabolic activities and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) determined the morphology and element composition of microbial dolomite. During the depositional and syngenetic stages, the metabolic activities of cyanobacteria and SRB were active and EPS, biofilms and microbial mats were well-developed. EPS provided a large number of nucleation sites. Accordingly, many nanometer-sized pene-cubical granular and (sub) micron-sized sheet-like microbial dolomites were formed. During the penecontemporaneous stage, SBR, cyanobacteria, and moderately halophilic aerobic bacteria were inactive. Furthermore, nucleation sites reduced significantly and were derived from both the EPS of surviving microorganisms and un-hydrolyzed EPS from dead microorganisms. Consequently the microbial dolomites present nanometer-sized spherulitic and micron-sized irregular, spherical, and ovoidal morphologies. Overall, the microbial dolomites evolved from nanometer-sized granular (including spherulitic and pene-cubical granular) dolomites to (sub) micron-sized sheet-like, irregular, spherical and ovoidal dolomites, and then to macroscopic laminated, stromatolithic, uniform, and clotted dolostones. These findings reveal the correlation between morphological evolution of microbial dolomite and microbial activities showing the complexity and diversity of mineral (dolomite)-microbe interactions, and providing new insight into microbial biomineralization and microbial dolomite in the Precambrian era.