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Very high magnesium calcite formation and microbial communities found in porosity of the Seroe Domi Formation of Curacao, Netherland Antilles

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Abstract

Pores in the Seroe Domi Formation on Curacao contain large quantities of clay minerals, organic material, and protodolomite or very high-magnesium calcite (VHMC) crystals. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) applied to bio-sectioned rock samples showed the in situ relationship between the organic material, clay minerals, and VHMC. Dumbbells, consisting of two globular bodies connected by a narrow waist, ~20 mm in length and 5–8 mm wide, characterize the organic masses. The dumbbells are coated by clay minerals. VHMC crystals grew from nucleation points within microbial films and sheaths that surround the dumbbells. DNA extraction for 16 s rRNA gene analysis revealed the presence of sulfate- and sulfur-reducing bacteria, a variety of marine cyanophytes, bacteridetes, and proteobacteria, plus freshwater cyanophytes within the rock samples. This study provides evidence from a new field locality for the microbial nucleation and growth of VHMC associated with clay minerals, and the in situ appearance of microbial dumbbells associated with dolomite. Additionally, this study is the first to reveal the internal structure of these dumbbell features indicating that they are organic in origin with crystalline material in the surrounding sheath.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank David Budd and all of the anonymous reviewers that helped shape this manuscript with their insightful comments and suggestions. Special thanks to Brenda Kirkland for insight and guidance during the pilot portion of this project. The Carmabi Research Institute provided logistical assistance for field reconnaissance. Mr. R. Sledge Simmons provided funding for lodging. A Grant from the National Speleological Society provided funds for equipment use. Mississippi State University Department of Geosciences assisted with field and analytical expenses. Special thanks for laboratory assistance during TEM imaging/analysis to Amanda Lawrence and Rooban Venkatesh K. G. Thirumalai of I2AT at Mississippi State University. Sam Houston State University Department of Geography and Geology assisted with TEM analytical expenses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas, USA

    Jonathan B. Sumrall

  2. Department of Natural Sciences, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio, USA

    Erik B. Larson

  3. Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USA

    John E. Mylroie

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  1. Jonathan B. Sumrall
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Correspondence to Jonathan B. Sumrall.

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Sumrall, J.B., Larson, E.B. & Mylroie, J.E. Very high magnesium calcite formation and microbial communities found in porosity of the Seroe Domi Formation of Curacao, Netherland Antilles. Carbonates Evaporites 32, 123–133 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-017-0352-7

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