Comment on the paper by Davies et al. “Resolving MISS conceptions and misconceptions: A geological approach to sedimentary surface textures generated by microbial and abiotic processes” (Earth Science Reviews, 154 (2016), 210–246)

Abstract

The article by Davies et al. discusses scientific studies on microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS). The sedimentary structures are caused by benthic microbes in clastic deposits and have the potential to fossilize. In the opinion of Davies et al., it may be problematic to distinguish MISS-like structures (e.g., ‘wrinkle structures’) from similar, but abiotic structures. Therefore, their article argues, there exists a need for an umbrella classification summarizing both biological and abiotic sedimentary structures. However, Davies et al.'s paper does not reflect a thorough understanding of the formation and preservation of MISS. More so, while the authors appreciate the benefit of geological field work, and petrological as well as geochemical laboratory sample analyses, their article appears to widely disregard that this scientific rigor is presented in studies on MISS. The lack of data make the classification by Davies et al. unsupported and difficult to use. It potentially confuses by producing multiple classification possibilities rather than a pragmatic organization, and it contributes an unnecessary terminological ballast to a research area that has progressed far beyond to the concepts that the paper by Davies et al. presents.