Comparison of microbially induced sedimentary structures in the Palaeoproterozoic Magaliesberg (Transvaal Supergroup) and Makgabeng (Waterberg Group) Formations, Kaapvaal craton, South Africa

Abstract

The MRS/MISS of the Makgabeng Formation encompasses sand cracks, wrinkle marks, mat fragments, mat chips and roll-ups and those of the Magaliesberg formation are wrinkle marks, petees/petee ridges, sand cracks, and multi-directional ripples. The sedimentary process that moderated the formational mechanism of the MISS of the Makgabeng Formation is (descriptively allochthonous) of high energy (inter-dune depositional setting) that eroded, transported and re-deposited mat bound sediments. The genetic mechanism of the MISS of the Magaliesberg Formation is descriptively authochthonous because of enhanced resistance of biostabilized sediments to being reworked. XRF (major and trace) and XRD analysis (qualitative and quantitative) was done on MISS bearing sedimentary rock layers (A) and underlying sedimentary sections (B) of Magaliesberg and Makgabeng samples. Result show high quartz content of all the analyzed samples compared to average sandstones. This premise suggests a relation of microbes (e.g. cyanobacteria) to phototrophy and/photoautotrophy because of the conduction properties of translucent quartz. Also plausible inference is that the intense chemical weathering that produced the quartz arenite was positively influenced by microbes, as noted in some Proterozoic basins. There is higher concentration of Ba in all A samples compared to B (Makgabeng and Magaliesberg) which might be emblematic of biogenicity. The Magaliesberg analyzed samples (MAG 101, 102, 103) exhibit homogeneity by the higher concentration of Al2O3, TiO2, K2O, and P2O5, and lower concentration of SiO2 in the A compared to the B subsamples of a particular sample. Also, Magaliesberg analyzed samples (MAG 101, 102, 103) exhibit homogeneity by the lower concentration of quartz and higher concentration of muscovite in the A compared to the B subsamples. This exact established negative correlation between the duo of SiO2 and quartz, and the quartet of Al2O3, TiO2, K2O, and P2O5, and muscovite as in Magaliesberg samples pertains also to a Makgabeng sample (MKG 102; roll-up). MKG 101 (mat fragment) deviates from this mineralogical and geochemical trend. Each of the A samples of MAG 101, 102, 103, are uniformly of higher concentration in Ce, Cr, Nb, Th, V, Y, Zn, Zr compared to the B version of that sample. MKG 101 and 102 are uniformly of lower concentration of Ce, Cr, Nb, Th, V, Y, Zn, Zr in A compared to the B version of that sample. The A of each of the samples MAG 101, 102, and 103 has higher concentration of Hf and Rb compared to its B; a character that is also exhibit in MKG 102, and MKG 101 is vice versa. Microscopy shows that A of all the samples is of smaller grain size compared to B, espousing affinity of microbes to fine-medium grained sandstones. Microscopy of the Magaliesberg Formation samples show Pseudo petee ridges and pseudo cross lamination which reflect biostabilization, and microscopy of the Makgabeng Formation show roll-ups, mat chips and composite mat chips. The MISS genetic difference of the two formations is related to energy, water residence time (emergence and inundation), Ph, and similarity is related to mutuality in shallow water environment. Mat types are inferred to be biologically, physically and chemically moderated adaptations of microbial communities to specific cum peculiar locally prevailing environmental conditions; factors that are premised on taphonomy and ecology.