Skip to main content
Log in

The origin of High-Mg-Calcite microbialites in cryptic habitats of Caribbean coral reefs—Their dependence on light and turbulence

  • Published:
Facies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In coral reefs of St. Croix, U.S.V.I., microbialites are found in weakly illuminated cryptic habitats. They form crusts of several centimeter thickness on coralgal framework. A high energy environment causes a thrombolitic texture whereas under low energy conditions stromatolitic crusts are developed. High-Mg-Calcite crystallizes in an organic matrix and silt-sized particles are trapped on an organic mucus; both processes contribute to the accretion of microbialites. A sessile benthic community dominated by foraminifera uses microbialites as a hard substrate to grow.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adey, W.H. (1975): The algal ridges of St. Croix: their structure and Holocene development.—Atoll Res. Bull.,187, 1–67, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosence, D.W.J. (1984): Construction and preservation of two modern coralline algal reefs, St. Croix, Caribbean.—Palaeontology,27/3, 549–574, 9 figs., 3 tabs., 2 pls., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Burne, R.V. & Moore, L.S. (1987): Microbialites: organosedimentary deposits of benthic microbial communities.— Palaois,2/3, 10 figs., Tulsa

  • Hubbard, D.K., Burk, R.B. &Gill, I.P. (1986): Styles of accretion along a steep, shelf-edge reef, St. Croix, U.S.V.I.—J. Sed. Petrol.,56, 848–861, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Land, L.S. &Goreau, T.F. (1970): Submarine lithification of Jamaican reefs.—J. Sed. Petrol.40, 457–462, 6 figs., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B. &Hunter, I.G. (1991): Corals to rhodolites to microbialites —a community replacement sequence indicative of regressive conditions.—Palaois,6/1, 54–66, 11 figs., 1 tab., Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Macintyre, G. &Marshall, J.F. (1988): Submarine lithification in coral reefs: some facts and misconceptions.—Proc. 6th Internat. Coral Reef Symp., Australia, 1988,1, 263–272, Townsville

    Google Scholar 

  • Martindale, W. (1992): Calcified epibionts as palaeoecological tools: examples from the Recent and Pleistocene of Barbados. —Coral Reefs,11/3, 167–177, 10 figs., Berlin

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montaggioni, L.F. &Camion, G.F. (1993): Stromatolites associated with coralgal communities in Holocene high-energyreefs. —Geology,21/2, 149–152, 4 figs., Boulder

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reitner, J. (1993). Modern cryptic microbialite/metazoan facies of the Lizard Island Section (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)— Formation and concepts.—Facies,29, this volume, Erlangen

  • Weiner, S., Traub, W. &Lowenstam, H.A. (1983): Organic matrix in calcified exoskeletons.—In:Westbroek, P. &de Jong, E.W. (eds.): Biomineralization and Biological Metal Accumulation. —533 pp., 204–224, Dordrecht (Reidel)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zankl, H. &Schroeder, J.H. (1972): Interaction of genetic processes in Holocene reefs off North Eleuthera Island, Bahamas. —Geol. Rdsch.,61, 520–541, 8 figs., Stuttgart

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zankl, H. The origin of High-Mg-Calcite microbialites in cryptic habitats of Caribbean coral reefs—Their dependence on light and turbulence. Facies 29, 55–59 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02536917

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02536917

KeyWords

Navigation