Abstract
AbstractWe report varied microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS), and other sedimentary surface textures, from the Induan (Early Triassic) Sunjiagou Formation and Liujiagou Formation in the Xingyang, Dengfeng, Jiyuan and Yiyang areas, western Henan Province, North China. Microanalysis shows that these MISS are characterized by a U-shaped structure, thin clayey laminae, and discontinuous mica sheet that are arranged parallel to the bedding plane, as well as directionally oriented quartz grains floating in lamina, which are indicative of a biogenic origin. The MISS of the studied area were probably affected by four main factors, including the end-Permian mass extinction, the megamonsoon, the adapted sedimentary environment, and the sediment supply, and they possess significant stratigraphic correlation. Abundant microbial-related sedimentary structures from the study area indicate that continental ecosystems were severely devastated in the aftermath of the Permian-Triassic biocrisis. These sedimentary structure assemblages, including MISS, red beds, conglomerate layers, and calcareous concretions in the western Henan Province, show a specific, post-extinction continental ecosystem that was characterized by microflora dominance, monotonous and rare fossils, extreme hot climate, soil ecosystem devastation, and poor vegetation.
Highlights
According to studies of modern microbial mats, cyanobacteria and its extracellular polymeric substances form sheet-like sedimentary bodies, the microbial mat, by trapping, binding, and biostabilization [1,2,3,4]
The microbial community interacts with the sedimentary environment by growing, destroying, decaying, and metabolizing in order to form biomat-related sedimentary structures, which are known as microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) [1,4,5,6,7]
The Early Triassic microbialites and MISS occur in the marine sedimentary environments of the circumTethys Sea
Summary
According to studies of modern microbial mats, cyanobacteria and its extracellular polymeric substances form sheet-like sedimentary bodies, the microbial mat, by trapping, binding, and biostabilization [1,2,3,4]. Continental Permian-Triassic successions are well-exposed and widely distributed in the western Henan Province, such as the Xingyang, Dengfeng, Jiyuan, and Yiyang areas in North China, and are characterized by inland fluvial and lacustrine siliciclastic red beds. The Liujiagou Formation of the Cuimiao section, Xingyang county, is ∼93 m thick, dominated by a thick, fine red sandstone containing cross-bedding, ripples, and MISS, and its upper part is denuded. The Liujiagou Formation of the Baiping section, Dengfeng county, is ∼212 m thick, dominated by a thick, fine red sandstone interbedded with a thin reddish mudstone and contains cross-bedding, ripples, and varied MISS. The Liujiagou Formation of the Ligou section, Yiyang county, is ∼117 m thick and is dominated by a thick, fine red quartz sandstone interbedded with reddish siltstones, thin mudstones, and conglomerates and contains cross-bedding, ripples, and varied MISS
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