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Enigmatic molar-tooth structures (MTS) from Mesoproterozoic Deoban limestone, NW-Lesser Himalaya: Evidence for microbial decay and in-situ precipitation

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AbstractSection Abstract

Molar-tooth structures (MTS) are enigmatic, micro-crystalline calcite-filled fissures, confined in Proterozoic carbonates. Here we present petrography, carbon isotope, total organic carbon (TOC) and morphological attributes in the context of interpreted palaeoenvironment to understand its development in the Mesoproterozoic carbonates of Lesser Himalaya. Lack of any detrital infill, uniform crystal size and gradational contact with host limestone indicate rapid calcite precipitation in fluid-filled cracks. Reworking of MT as intraclast, folding and offset of MT ribbons supports for early formation before significant lithification. Moderate TOC (0.1–0.9) is possibly due to organic matter preservation under sub-oxic to slightly anoxic/dysoxic conditions. Storm generated bedforms indicate deposition in between fair weather- and storm wave base. Average 1.4‰ depletion of δ13C in MT relative to host limestone, presence of relict microbial laminae along the margin of the MT cracks and storm generated bedforms at outcrop scale indicates that the cracks might have formed by the combined effect of degassing of CO2 generated during the microbial oxidation of organic matter and wave loading by storm. Precipitation of microcrystalline calcite within the cracks may have been triggered by alkalinity generated by the mixing of the outflowing CO2 with seawater.

AbstractSection Research Highlights
  1. 1.

    Molar-tooth structures from Mesoproterozoic carbonates, lesser Himalaya.

  2. 2.

    Carbon and oxygen isotopic study from the molar-tooth structures.

  3. 3.

    Depletion in carbon isotope value in molar-tooth compared to host limestone.

  4. 4.

    CO2 degassing combined with wave loading generated cracks.

  5. 5.

    Increased alkalinity due to outflow and mixing promoted precipitation.

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Acknowledgements

This is contribution no: WIHG/0072. SS acknowledges financial support from Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (Grant no: DST/INSPIRE/04/2018/003637 and PDF/2016/003605). SS and SD thank the Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology for necessary laboratory facilities. Two anonymous reviewers are thanked for their helpful comments on the earlier draft of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sedimentology Division, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, 248 001, India

    Subhojit Saha & Som Dutt

  2. Department of Geology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India

    Rasikh Barkat

  3. Centre of Excellence for Energy Studies, Oil India Limited, Guwahati, 781 022, India

    Rasikh Barkat

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  1. Subhojit Saha
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  2. Som Dutt
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SS: Conceptualization, field visit, sample collection, interpretation, writing and revision; SD: formal analysis and interpretation; and RB: field visit and analysis.

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Correspondence to Subhojit Saha.

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Communicated by Santanu Banerjee

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Saha, S., Dutt, S. & Barkat, R. Enigmatic molar-tooth structures (MTS) from Mesoproterozoic Deoban limestone, NW-Lesser Himalaya: Evidence for microbial decay and in-situ precipitation. J Earth Syst Sci 130, 99 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01606-1

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