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Role of microbial mats in the genesis of soft‐sediment deformation structures in a siliciclastic environment.

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Title: Role of microbial mats in the genesis of soft‐sediment deformation structures in a siliciclastic environment.
Authors: Cuadrado, Diana G.1 (AUTHOR) cuadrado@criba.edu.ar, Maisano, Lucía1,2 (AUTHOR), Perillo, Vanesa L.1,3 (AUTHOR), Raniolo, L. Ariel1,4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Sedimentology. Jun2026, Vol. 73 Issue 4, p1201-1224. 24p.
Subject Terms: *Microbial mats, *Sedimentary structures, *Siliciclastic rocks, *Storm surges, *Coastal sediments
Abstract: This study addresses gaps in existing knowledge about what triggers deformation structures in soft sediments and the siliciclastic rocks that form from them. These structures are extremely diverse due to the variety of processes and agents that cause them, although several studies have been carried out to disentangle the triggering mechanisms of their formation. This study considers the role of microbial mats (with characteristic millimetre to centimetre‐heterolithic lamination) in the formation of soft sediment deformation structures, and proposes what processes are involved in their formation. It is hypothesized that wet microbial mats exhibit extremely flexible and plastic deformation that may be analogous to some structures found in sedimentary rocks. The present study documents convoluted sedimentary structures characterized by deformation, which were identified at a depth of 10 to 15 cm in a coastal sedimentary supratidal flat subject to flooding during storm surges and studied using morphological and petrographic analysis. The research was conducted at a modern coastal site characterized by sediments colonized by thick microbial mats. Currents during storm surges create deformed microbially‐induced sedimentary structures, such as metre‐scale microbial roll‐ups, in which the laminated microbial mats exhibit multiple folds. Additionally, microbial folds and gas domes, characterized by a convex‐upward microbial mat, have a cavity when they form that is filled with sand due to liquefaction and/or fluidization during subsequent flooding by storm surges. These processes are related to the incoming seawater and the height of the water column (up to 70 cm) above the microbial surface, which is also influenced by wave action. The results may help to provide new insights into the genesis of some soft‐sediment deformation structures in the coastal environment, documenting a non‐seismic mechanism of formation in siliciclastic deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 194450281
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Role of microbial mats in the genesis of soft‐sediment deformation structures in a siliciclastic environment.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cuadrado%2C+Diana+G%2E%22">Cuadrado, Diana G.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> cuadrado@criba.edu.ar</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maisano%2C+Lucía%22">Maisano, Lucía</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Perillo%2C+Vanesa+L%2E%22">Perillo, Vanesa L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Raniolo%2C+L%2E+Ariel%22">Raniolo, L. Ariel</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Sedimentology%22">Sedimentology</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 73 Issue 4, p1201-1224. 24p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microbial+mats%22">Microbial mats</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sedimentary+structures%22">Sedimentary structures</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Siliciclastic+rocks%22">Siliciclastic rocks</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Storm+surges%22">Storm surges</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coastal+sediments%22">Coastal sediments</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study addresses gaps in existing knowledge about what triggers deformation structures in soft sediments and the siliciclastic rocks that form from them. These structures are extremely diverse due to the variety of processes and agents that cause them, although several studies have been carried out to disentangle the triggering mechanisms of their formation. This study considers the role of microbial mats (with characteristic millimetre to centimetre‐heterolithic lamination) in the formation of soft sediment deformation structures, and proposes what processes are involved in their formation. It is hypothesized that wet microbial mats exhibit extremely flexible and plastic deformation that may be analogous to some structures found in sedimentary rocks. The present study documents convoluted sedimentary structures characterized by deformation, which were identified at a depth of 10 to 15 cm in a coastal sedimentary supratidal flat subject to flooding during storm surges and studied using morphological and petrographic analysis. The research was conducted at a modern coastal site characterized by sediments colonized by thick microbial mats. Currents during storm surges create deformed microbially‐induced sedimentary structures, such as metre‐scale microbial roll‐ups, in which the laminated microbial mats exhibit multiple folds. Additionally, microbial folds and gas domes, characterized by a convex‐upward microbial mat, have a cavity when they form that is filled with sand due to liquefaction and/or fluidization during subsequent flooding by storm surges. These processes are related to the incoming seawater and the height of the water column (up to 70 cm) above the microbial surface, which is also influenced by wave action. The results may help to provide new insights into the genesis of some soft‐sediment deformation structures in the coastal environment, documenting a non‐seismic mechanism of formation in siliciclastic deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=194450281
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/sed.13266
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 24
        StartPage: 1201
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Microbial mats
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sedimentary structures
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Siliciclastic rocks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Storm surges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Coastal sediments
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Role of microbial mats in the genesis of soft‐sediment deformation structures in a siliciclastic environment.
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          Name:
            NameFull: Cuadrado, Diana G.
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            NameFull: Maisano, Lucía
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            NameFull: Perillo, Vanesa L.
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          Name:
            NameFull: Raniolo, L. Ariel
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 00370746
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              Value: 73
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              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Sedimentology
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