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Pyrite framboids interpreted as microbial colonies within the Permian Zoophycos spreiten from southeastern Australia

YI-MING GONG^*,,, GUANG R. SHI^*,, ELIZABETH A. WELDON^*,, YUAN-SHENG DU^* and RAN XU^*

^* Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Institute of Resources and Environment; Key Laboratory of Biogenic Traces and Sedimentary Minerals of Henan Province, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454003, China
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia

View larger version (27K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Locality of the studied Zoophycos hosted in the Westley Park Sandstone Member, the base of the Middle Permian Broughton Formation from Black Head, southern Sydney Basin, southeastern Australia.

View larger version (28K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Stratigraphic column showing the characteristics of Zoophycos-bearing strata from the southern Sydney Basin, southeastern Australia.

View larger version (153K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Photographs showing the characteristics of Zoophycos studied herein in plan (a,b) and vertical (c–h) views. (a–d) Major lamellae (black arrows) radiate from the central shaft (white solid arrows) and curve distally to the left and right, (b) and (d) are the close-ups of (a) and (c), respectively; white hollow arrows indicate brachiopods in (a) and (b). (e–h) Zoophycos in outcrops (e–g) and polished surface (h) is associated with brachiopod (white hollow arrow in e) and dropstones (white solid arrows in e and f); a spreite (black arrows in f and g) of Zoophycos consists of light- and dark-grey minor lamellae in rhythmic alternation.

View larger version (197K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 4. Scanning electron microscope images showing the pyrite framboids (PF1) interpreted as microbial colonies within the light-grey minor lamellae of Zoophycos spreiten. (a–d) PF1 consist of non-sheathed, hollow (black arrow in b) and infilled (white arrow in b) sub-micron balls with smooth opening, (b) is the close-up of (a), and (d) is the close-up of (c). PF1 shallowly penetrate into surfaces of the detrital feldspars in (a) and (c).

View larger version (160K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 5. Scanning electron microscope images showing the pyrite framboids (PF2) interpreted as microbial colonies within the dark-grey minor lamellae of Zoophycos spreiten. (a–d) The PF2 consist of sheathed (black arrows in b and d) and hollow (white arrow in b) sub-micron balls with thick wall; (b) is the close-up of (a), and (d) is the close-up of (c). PF2 are hosted in the environment rich in clay minerals and organic material in (a) and (c).