Smithian Microstromatolites in Triassic in Chaohu,East China and Their Forming Mechanism

摘要

INTRODUCTION Many typical stromatolites, thrombolites, and massive or clotted micritic mudmounds from peritidal to open marine of the basal Triassic carbonates have been documented (Hips and Hass, 2006; Baud et al., 2005, 1997; Adachi et al., 2004; Ezaki et al., 2003; Paul and Peryt, 2000; Lehrmann, 1999; Twitchett, 1999; Wignall and Twitchett, 1999; Lehrmann et al., 1998; Sano and Nakashima, 1997). Some stromatolites in the upper Lower Triassic (Spathian) have also been reported (Mary and Woods, 2008; Pruss and Bottjer, 2004; Qian, 1995; Schubert and Bottjer, 1992). Here, we present some Smithian microstromatolites which were examined in the field and in thin sections to describe their features and to discuss their forming mechanism.