Lesson plan
Microbialite
) Microbialite is a benthic sedimentary deposit made of carbonate mud (particle diameter less than 5 μm) that is formed with the mediation of microbes. The constituent carbonate mud is a type of automicrite (or authigenic carbonate mud); therefore, it precipitates in situ instead of being transported and deposited. Being formed in situ, a microbialite can be seen as a type of boundstone where reef builders are microbes, and precipitation of carbonate is biotically induced instead of forming tests, shells or skeletons. Microbialites can also be defined as microbial mats with lithification capacity. Bacteria can precipitate carbonate both in shallow and in deep water (except for Cyanobacteria) and so microbialites can form regardless of the sunlight. Microbialites are the foundation of many lacustrine ecosystems, such as the biosystem of the Great Salt Lake with its millions of migratory birds or, serving in the Alchichica Lake as nurseries for axolotl (Ambystoma taylori) and a variety of fish. Microbialites were very important to the formation of Precambrian and Phanerozoic limestones in many different environments, marine and not. The most favorable time for stromatolite proliferation was from 2800 Ma to 1000 Ma when stromatolites were the main constituents of carbonate platforms. The three types of microbialites are stromatolites, thrombolites, and leiolites.
Article summary
) Microbialite is a benthic sedimentary deposit made of carbonate mud (particle diameter less than 5 μm) that is formed with the mediation of microbes. The constituent carbonate mud is a type of automicrite (or authigenic carbonate mud); therefore, it precipitates in situ instead of being transported and deposited. Being formed in situ, a microbialite can be seen as a type of boundstone where reef builders are microbes, and precipitation of carbonate is biotically induced instead of forming tests, shells or skeletons. Microbialites can also be defined as microbial mats with lithification capacity. Bacteria can precipitate carbonate both in shallow and in deep water (except for Cyanobacteria) and so microbialites can form regardless of the sunlight. Microbialites are the foundation of many lacustrine ecosystems, such as the biosystem of the Great Salt Lake with its millions of migratory birds or, serving in the Alchichica Lake as nurseries for axolotl (Ambystoma taylori) and a variety of fish. Microbialites were very important to the formation of Precambrian and Phanerozoic limestones in many different environments, marine and not. The most favorable time for stromatolite proliferation was from 2800 Ma to 1000 Ma when stromatolites were the main constituents of carbonate platforms. The three types of microbialites are stromatolites, thrombolites, and leiolites.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.