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Late Ordovician microbial reefs in the Lianglitag Formation (Bachu, Tarim, NW China)

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Abstract

Reefs in the Late Ordovician are usually built up by metazoans, whereas in the Early and Middle Ordovician microbial reefs are dominating. In the Late Ordovician (Katian) Lianglitag Formation, at Bachu, Tarim, NW China, however, three distinct stages of thrombolithic microbial reefs are exposed. The lower and upper reef intervals are characterized by widespread microbial carbonates with almost constant thicknesses (biostromes). The middle reef interval exposes dome-like mounds, and shows a higher diversity of reef-building and reef-dwelling organisms. Calcareous algae such as Vermiporella are abundant, but also other components such as fragments of Halysis, brachiopods, molluscs, echinoderms, bryozoans, and trilobites have been found in the microbial reef units. The purpose of this study is to describe for the first time the composition and microfacies of the reefs in this remote area. Especially the question of whether or not these Late Ordovician reefs represent remnants of the Early/Middle Ordovician microbial-dominated reef type just lacking Calathium and lithistid sponge is addressed. The results indicate that the local conditions on the leeward side of the carbonate platform, where waters are less well agitated and thus less well oxygenated, and probably also characterized by temporarily elevated water temperatures hampering the growth of metazoan reefs, were responsible for the proliferation of the Late Ordovician microbial reefs in the Bachu area.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Professor Zhang Junming and Dr. Wang Jianpio for their help during the field work. Special thanks are contributed to late Prof. Xue Yaosong in NIGPAS for his insightful teaching to Zhang Yuanyuan. Prof. Baba Senowbari-Daryan helped with the identification of some microproblematica, which is gratefully acknowledged. The study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (grants no.: 41072002, 412210012011 and ZX05008-001-B0). Two anonymous referees significantly improved an earlier version of this paper. Their constructive criticism is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, East Beijing Road 39, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Yuanyuan Zhang & Yue Li

  2. GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Fachgruppe Palaöumwelt, Loewenichstr. 28, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Yuanyuan Zhang & Axel Munnecke

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  1. Yuanyuan Zhang
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Correspondence to Yue Li.

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Zhang, Y., Li, Y. & Munnecke, A. Late Ordovician microbial reefs in the Lianglitag Formation (Bachu, Tarim, NW China). Facies 60, 663–684 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-014-0396-2

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