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MICROSTROMATOLITES FROM THE 2.3 G.A. TRANSVAAL SEQUENCE, SOUTH AFRICA (STROMATOLITES, MICROFOSSIL, CHERT). Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors LANIER, WILLIAM PAUL. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 07/10/2021 02:33:27 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/187726 INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. 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TRANSVAAL SEQUENCE, SOUTH AFRI CA by William Paul Lanier A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTr~ENT OF GEOSCIENCES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 8 4 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by __Wn.j.l.l.jaQmW-PLaQt~l.J_T~!aQDu.je~r~ _________________________ entitled __~M~i~c~r~o~s~1"~r~o~mQa~t~o~1~j~t~e~s~F~r~Q~m~t~h~e~2~.~3~G~.~a~.~T~r~a~n~s~y~a~a~l~S~e~Q~u~e~n~c~e~. ________ S0 11th Africa and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of __~D~o~c~t~o~r~o~f~P~h~i~l~o~s~o~p~h~y __________________________________ __ Date 5(IC/f<t Date Date Date Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. ~----:-.:> ~~. Dissertation Director Date STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfullment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to bor rowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or re production of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judgement the proposed use of the material is in the in terests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: L~l!~ p, p~ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author greatfully acknowledges his doctoral committee comprising Drs. Victor R. Baker, Susan Kidwell, Norval A. Sinclair, and Joseph F. Schrieber, Jr. for their cooperation and assistance in the completion of this manuscript, and especially to his major professor, Dr. Bartholomew Nagy, for his advice, encouragement, and guidance throughout the author's degree program at the University of Arizona. Ms. L.A. Nagy provided the core materials for this study and also aided in the stimulation of many of the concepts put forth in this manuscript. Dr. David H. Krinsley (Arizona State University) conducted the EDS microprobe analysis and W.K. Bilodeau assisted the author in x-ray diffraction studies of the Transvaal materials. The author will be forever greatful to his wife, Susan Stover, for both her unselfish contribution to the completion of this manuscript and her unending patience during the author's degree program. The author is also con siderably indebted to Mr. John Welty for his assistance in editing the manuscript and helpful suggestions. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vi LIST OF TABLES ix ABSTRACT x INTRODUCTION The Transvaal Sequence . 2 Stratigraphy of the Transvaal Sequence. 3 Age of the Transvaal Sequence .....•... 5 Sedimentology of the Chuniespoort Group 7 Stromatolites ..•............. 9 Modern Cyanobacterial/Microbial Mats ...... 12 Classification of Stromatolites ... 15 Descriptive Attributes of Stromatolites ..... 16 Stromatolite Morphology ..... 17 Stromatolite Lamination. 17 Microfossils ..... 18 Transvaal Stromatolites . • • • 20 Transvaal Microfossils .. 21 Chert and Authigenic Silica Diagenesis 22 MATERIALS AND METHODS 25 Optical Microscopy .... • • • • 29 X-Ray Diffraction Analysis 30 Electron Microprobe Analysis 31 RESULTS • • • • • 32 Mineralogy and Texture 32 TRD-l Series ...... 33 TRD-2 Series . 37 TRDO-8 Series 40 TRD-4 Series . 44 Microstromatolites and Stromatolite Intraclasts. 51 Textural Definition . ...•. 51 Disarticulated Microstromatolites ..... 59 iv v TABLE OF CONTENTS--Continued Page Articulated Microstromatolites .. 61 Columnar Microstromatolites. 63 Bulbous Microstromatolites 64 Nodular Microstromatolites ...• 64 Composite Microstromatolites 65 In Situ Microstromatolites .. 67 Fossil-Like Microstructures •••.....•. 68 Filamentous Microstructures ..••...•. 69 Filaments Associated with Pyrite Grains ..... 69 Filaments Associated with Stromatolite Intraclasts. 78 Coccoid/Spheroidal Microstructures . 80 Bacteria-Like Microstructures 89 DISCUSSION ..•......... 96 Diagenesis and Silicification. •.. 97 Fossil-Like Microstructures ....•.•.•...... 106 Filamentous Microstructures Associated with Pyrite; Comparison with "Ambient Pyrite Grains" ....... 107 Other Transvaal Mi crostructures - "Potenti al Mi crofossi 1s II ••••••••••••••••••• 115 Stromatolite Intraclast Associated Filaments 115 Ovoid/Spheroidal Microstructures .... 117 Bacteria-Like Microstructures .. 120 Transvaal Microstromatolites ....... 122 Microstromatolite Morphogenesis ... 129 Microstromatolite Lamination Textures ... 131 Sediment Trapping/Binding Versus Carbonate Precipitation ..... 139 Morphogenesis 141 CONCLUS ION . 143 LIST OF REFERENCES . 147 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fi gure Page 1. Outcrop belt of the Transvaal Sequence in southern Africa 4 2. Stratigraphic column of the Transvaal Sequence in central Transvaal State . • . 6 3. Lithostratigraphy of the Chuniespoort Group. 8 4. Generalized model for stromatolite accretion. 14 5. Geologic map of the Transvaal Sequence in central Transvaal State . 26 6. Photograph showing typical subsurface core samples of the Chuniespoort Group near Klerksdorp, R.S.A. 27 7. Drawing of the TRD-1-24 petrographic thin section

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