Paleoenvironmental implications of an extensive maceriate microbialite bed in the Furongian Chaomidian Formation, Shandong Province, China

This study focuses on the unique occurrence of an extensive microbialite bed (10–20 m thick) in the Chaomidian Formation (Furongian) in Shandong Province, China in order to understand its paleoenvironmental implications. The microbialite bed can be traced for over 6000 km2 in area. The microbialites are characterized by centimeter- to decimeter-scale branching maze-like constituents (maceriae) of microbial and muddy sediments with chaotic texture, including tabular maceriate microbialite (type 1), columnar maceriate microbialite (type 2), and columnar chaotic microbialite (type 3). Within the bed, each microbialite unit is generally well correlated for tens of kilometers. The entire bed is bounded by limestone–marlstone alternation at the base, and an erosional surface at the top that is subsequently overlain by a grainstone bed of various thicknesses. The microbialite bed formed when the seafloor reached suitable water depth for the microbial growth during sea-level rise accompanied with carbonate production. The maze-like maceria structures formed to acquire a larger surface area under a relatively large input of lime mud. The tabular maceriate microbialites initially formed in relatively deep-water environments and flourished on broad and flat seafloor, whereas the columnar microbialites (types 2 and 3) developed under the influence of strong waves and currents. The microbialite bed was eroded and terminated by frequent storm events and buried under the reworked grainstone. Further rise in sea level and increased metazoan activities afterwards limited the resurgence of microbes in the late Furongian.