The extant shore platform stromatolite (SPS) facies association: a glimpse into the Archean?
Shore platform stromatolites (SPS) were first noted at Cape Morgan on the south-east African seaboard. Since then they have been found growing discontinuously in rocky peritidal zones along the entire southern African seaboard. They have also been found on the southwest Australian coast, at Gia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.biogeosciences.net/15/2189/2018/bg-15-2189-2018.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811274929485643776 |
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| author | A. Smith A. Smith A. Cooper A. Cooper S. Misra V. Bharuth L. Guastella L. Guastella R. Botes |
| author_facet | A. Smith A. Smith A. Cooper A. Cooper S. Misra V. Bharuth L. Guastella L. Guastella R. Botes |
| author_sort | A. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Shore
platform stromatolites (SPS) were first noted at Cape Morgan on the
south-east African seaboard. Since then they have been found growing
discontinuously in rocky peritidal zones along the entire southern African
seaboard. They have also been found on the southwest Australian coast,
at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, and more recently at Harris on the Scottish
Hebridean Atlantic coast. In this paper SPS occurrence and SPS potential
as analogues for Precambrian fossil stromatolites, as well as potential stromatolite
occurrences in shore platform regions on Mars, are assessed. Sub-horizontal surfaces promote stromatolite
development, while tufa develops on cliffs and steep rocky surfaces. Tufa and
stromatolites are end members of a spectrum dictated by coastal topography.
Extant SPS occur on well indurated shore platforms in high wave energy
settings, often around or near headlands. They can be associated with boulder
beaches, boulder ridges, storm swash terraces, coastal dunes, and peat bogs.
In contrast to other extant stromatolites, SPS are produced primarily by
mineral precipitation, although minor trapping and binding stromatolites do
occur. From a geological perspective, SPS develop in mildly
transgressive siliciclastic settings in various climatic and tidal regimes.
We suggest that SPS could be preserved in the geological record as micritic
lenses on palaeo-shore platform surfaces. SPS share many features with
Precambrian stromatolites and are a valid modern analogue despite the widely
different atmospheric and oceanic conditions of the Archean. We suggest that
terraces associated with former oceanic or lacustrine flooding surfaces on
Mars are potential targets in the search for palaeo-SPS on Mars. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:29:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-34410ce4166b4668bbf61a80866fa8e5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:29:11Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biogeosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-34410ce4166b4668bbf61a80866fa8e52022-12-22T03:12:19ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892018-04-01152189220310.5194/bg-15-2189-2018The extant shore platform stromatolite (SPS) facies association: a glimpse into the Archean?A. Smith0A. Smith1A. Cooper2A. Cooper3S. Misra4V. Bharuth5L. Guastella6L. Guastella7R. Botes8Discipline of Geology, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville 3630, South AfricaCoast Busters Inc Research Group, 29 Brown's Grove, Sherwood, Durban 4091, South AfricaDiscipline of Geology, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville 3630, South AfricaSchool of Environmental Science, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UKDiscipline of Geology, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville 3630, South AfricaMicroscopy and Microanalysis Unit, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville 3630, South AfricaBayworld Centre for Research and Education (BCRE), Cape Town, South AfricaCoast Busters Inc Research Group, 29 Brown's Grove, Sherwood, Durban 4091, South AfricaGeo-Dynamic Systems, P.O. Box 1283, Westville 3630, South AfricaShore platform stromatolites (SPS) were first noted at Cape Morgan on the south-east African seaboard. Since then they have been found growing discontinuously in rocky peritidal zones along the entire southern African seaboard. They have also been found on the southwest Australian coast, at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, and more recently at Harris on the Scottish Hebridean Atlantic coast. In this paper SPS occurrence and SPS potential as analogues for Precambrian fossil stromatolites, as well as potential stromatolite occurrences in shore platform regions on Mars, are assessed. Sub-horizontal surfaces promote stromatolite development, while tufa develops on cliffs and steep rocky surfaces. Tufa and stromatolites are end members of a spectrum dictated by coastal topography. Extant SPS occur on well indurated shore platforms in high wave energy settings, often around or near headlands. They can be associated with boulder beaches, boulder ridges, storm swash terraces, coastal dunes, and peat bogs. In contrast to other extant stromatolites, SPS are produced primarily by mineral precipitation, although minor trapping and binding stromatolites do occur. From a geological perspective, SPS develop in mildly transgressive siliciclastic settings in various climatic and tidal regimes. We suggest that SPS could be preserved in the geological record as micritic lenses on palaeo-shore platform surfaces. SPS share many features with Precambrian stromatolites and are a valid modern analogue despite the widely different atmospheric and oceanic conditions of the Archean. We suggest that terraces associated with former oceanic or lacustrine flooding surfaces on Mars are potential targets in the search for palaeo-SPS on Mars.https://www.biogeosciences.net/15/2189/2018/bg-15-2189-2018.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. Smith A. Smith A. Cooper A. Cooper S. Misra V. Bharuth L. Guastella L. Guastella R. Botes The extant shore platform stromatolite (SPS) facies association: a glimpse into the Archean? Biogeosciences |
| title | The extant shore platform stromatolite (SPS) facies association: a glimpse into the Archean? |
| title_full | The extant shore platform stromatolite (SPS) facies association: a glimpse into the Archean? |
| title_fullStr | The extant shore platform stromatolite (SPS) facies association: a glimpse into the Archean? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The extant shore platform stromatolite (SPS) facies association: a glimpse into the Archean? |
| title_short | The extant shore platform stromatolite (SPS) facies association: a glimpse into the Archean? |
| title_sort | extant shore platform stromatolite sps facies association a glimpse into the archean |
| url | https://www.biogeosciences.net/15/2189/2018/bg-15-2189-2018.pdf |
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