The evolution of the marine carbonate factory
Changes in the location and rate of carbonate production in the ocean impact Earth's carbon cycle significantly through space and time. In a study led by Dr. Jiuyuan Wang and Dr. Lidya Tarhan from Yale University, we used stable strontium isotope ratios of marine carbonates spanning 3 billion years to describe the important role of the authigenic carbonate sink in the Precambrian and the impacts of the rise of biomineralization on Earth's climate. For further details: www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05654-5
Lime Mud Production on Great Bahama Bank
Whitings are enigmatic occurrences of fine grained carbonate mud forming on Great Bahama Bank. In this study, we showed that a confluence of hydrodynamics and wintertime temperature can enhanced whitings formation. Check out our study here:
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/sepm/jsedres/article/93/3/145/620896/Always-a-White-Christmas-in-the-Bahamas
Changes in the location and rate of carbonate production in the ocean impact Earth's carbon cycle significantly through space and time. In a study led by Dr. Jiuyuan Wang and Dr. Lidya Tarhan from Yale University, we used stable strontium isotope ratios of marine carbonates spanning 3 billion years to describe the important role of the authigenic carbonate sink in the Precambrian and the impacts of the rise of biomineralization on Earth's climate. For further details: www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05654-5
Lime Mud Production on Great Bahama Bank
Whitings are enigmatic occurrences of fine grained carbonate mud forming on Great Bahama Bank. In this study, we showed that a confluence of hydrodynamics and wintertime temperature can enhanced whitings formation. Check out our study here:
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/sepm/jsedres/article/93/3/145/620896/Always-a-White-Christmas-in-the-Bahamas
Microbial carbonate production in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay
Microbialites and peloids are commonly observed together in the ancient rock record, and our recent study showed that Hamelin Pool is a modern analogue for these facies assemblages. We estimated that ~24,000 metric tons of microbial carbonate sediment are produced each year in Hamelin Pool!
For further details, check out our publication led by Dr. Erica Suosaari here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-16651-z
Microbialites and peloids are commonly observed together in the ancient rock record, and our recent study showed that Hamelin Pool is a modern analogue for these facies assemblages. We estimated that ~24,000 metric tons of microbial carbonate sediment are produced each year in Hamelin Pool!
For further details, check out our publication led by Dr. Erica Suosaari here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-16651-z
Changing microbial communities and early taphonomy
The internal fabric of microbialites in Hamelin Pool change as a result of bi-directional processes; 1) upwards changes in the microbial community building the structure and 2) downward modification of the fabric by early taphonomic processes occurring in the original depositional environment. These results show that microbialite fabrics can be modified substantially without experiencing diagenesis. For more information, please check out our publication in The Depositional Record here:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/dep2.244
Stromatolite accretion in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, Western Australia
Do you know how stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia grow? In this study, we learned that carbonate precipitation by microbial communities in these stromatolites plays a more important role in accretion than previously appreciated. Check out our publication here: www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/8/304
The internal fabric of microbialites in Hamelin Pool change as a result of bi-directional processes; 1) upwards changes in the microbial community building the structure and 2) downward modification of the fabric by early taphonomic processes occurring in the original depositional environment. These results show that microbialite fabrics can be modified substantially without experiencing diagenesis. For more information, please check out our publication in The Depositional Record here:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/dep2.244
Stromatolite accretion in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, Western Australia
Do you know how stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia grow? In this study, we learned that carbonate precipitation by microbial communities in these stromatolites plays a more important role in accretion than previously appreciated. Check out our publication here: www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/8/304
Diagenesis in Shallow Marine Carbonate Environments Through Time
Through a combination of sedimentological and geochemical techniques, include stable carbon, oxygen, and organic carbon isotopes, mineralogy, and elemental analysis, we aim to reconstruct the post-depositional changes in carbonate sediments through time, so we can better understand how these archives record changes in biogeochemical cycles in Earth history.
Check out our paper on rolling window regression for a new approach to recognize diagenetic surfaces in high-resolution stable carbon and oxygen isotope records:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/dep2.88
In another study, meteoric and mixing zone diagenesis was simulated using a a 2D reactive transport model coupled with a 2D coastal hydrology model to provide quantitative insight into diagenetic changes experienced by carbonate sediments:
https://www.ajsonline.org/content/320/7/599.short
Through a combination of sedimentological and geochemical techniques, include stable carbon, oxygen, and organic carbon isotopes, mineralogy, and elemental analysis, we aim to reconstruct the post-depositional changes in carbonate sediments through time, so we can better understand how these archives record changes in biogeochemical cycles in Earth history.
Check out our paper on rolling window regression for a new approach to recognize diagenetic surfaces in high-resolution stable carbon and oxygen isotope records:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/dep2.88
In another study, meteoric and mixing zone diagenesis was simulated using a a 2D reactive transport model coupled with a 2D coastal hydrology model to provide quantitative insight into diagenetic changes experienced by carbonate sediments:
https://www.ajsonline.org/content/320/7/599.short