New findings about the Lake Salda Microbialites and Their Astrogeological Significance (Burdur, SW-Türkiye)

Abstract

In Lake Salda (Southwestern, Türkiye), modern microbialites containing hydrated Mg carbonates continue to form on the shoreline of the lake and at 15 m water depth in structures ranging from a few cm in size to about 10 m in height with 3-4 m width. For the first time, these organo-sedimentary structures were classified and their morphotypes, sedimentological and textural characteristics along with their spatial distribution in the lake were identified. In this context, 5 different zones were identified in the lake. In the lake, stromatolitic thrombolites are the most dominant microbialite type, while stromatolites and thrombolites are restricted to certain parts of the lake. Stromatolitic thrombolites have a wide variety of morphologies, usually dome-shaped and cauliflower-like, while they are rarely tabular. On a meso-scale (cm), stromatolitic thrombolites exhibit finger-shaped (2-5 cm) laminated mini-columns, and dendritic, and bulbous growth structures. Thrombolites with cauliflower morphology coalesce to form a large reef-like structure at depth (10-20 m). Thrombolites with stromatolitic laminae and dendritic internal structure are limited to certain zones in the lake (Zone 2, 3). The macro-scale external morphology of the microbialites is shaped primarily by the influence of the prevailing environmental conditions. Seasonal fluctuations in lake water level, regional differences in sedimentation rates, prevailing winds and currents are the main factors controlling the depositional environment. The internal growth structure of microbialites depends on the microbial community structure and the conditions of the depositional environment. Mineralogical study of the microbial layer revealed a different hydrated Mg carbonate mineral, dypingite (Mg5(CO3)4. OH2.5H2O), for the first time. This mineral, closely related to extracellular polymeric matter (EPS), is the precursor of hydromagnesite. Petrographic investigations of the microbialites revealed the presence of abundant vertical and near-vertical filament (mineralised?)-like structures associated with carbonates, exhibiting a clotted texture containing peloids of various sizes in addition to a thin lamination. Nodular aragonites are generally associated with microbial layers, while fibres developed in voids and aragonite fans and isopach fringes formed by their aggregation indicate secondary and abiotic carbonate precipitation in the lake. Due to their structural, mineralogical and compositional diversity, Lake Salda microbialites are a potential modern analogue that may reveal the origin and formation processes of both Mg-carbonates in the geological record and hydrated Mg-carbonates detected in a possible palaeolake in Jezero crater, one of the Martian craters. In this study, new data on Lake Salda microbialites is evaluated in terms of their origin, formation mechanism and potential for biosignatures.

Keywords

• Lake Salda
• Mars
• Biosignature
• Dypingite
• hydrated magnesium carbonates
• SW Türkiye

Salda Gölü Mikrobiyalitlerine Dair Yeni Bulgular ve Astrojeolojik Önemleri (Burdur, GB-Türkiye) / New findings about the Lake Salda Microbialites and Their Astrogeological Significance (Burdur, SW-Türkiye)

Abstract

Salda Gölü’nde (Güney Batı Anadolu) sulu magnezyum karbonat (SMK) içerikli güncel mikrobiyalitler, kıyı şeridi boyunca ve 15 m su derinliğine kadar uzanan, birkaç cm büyüklüğünden yaklaşık 10 m yüksekliğe ve 3-4 m genişliğe kadar varan e yapılar şeklinde oluşmaya devam etmektedir. Sunulan çalışma kapsamında, ilk defa bu organo-sedimanter yapıların, morfotipleri, sedimentolojik ve dokusal özellikleri ortaya konulmuş; türlerine göre sınıflandırılmış ve göldeki mekansal dağılımları haritalanmıştır. Bu kapsamda gölün litoral kısmında 5 farklı mikrobiyalit zonu belirlenmiştir. Göldeki, stromatolitik-trombolitler en baskın mikrobiyalit türüdür ve gölün belirli kısımlarında tayin edilmişlerdir. Stromatolitik-trombolitler, genellikle kubbemsi ve karnabahar; nadiren tabular (yassı) olmak üzere çok çeşitli makro morfolojiye sahiptir. Orta ölçekte (cm), stromatolitik-trombolitler parmak şekilli (2-5 cm) laminalı mini sütunlar, yumru şekilli dendritik ve soğanımsı büyüme yapıları sergiler. Karnabahar morfolojisine sahip trombolitler birleşerek derinlerde (10-20 m) resif benzeri geniş bir yapı oluşturmaktadırlar. Stromatolitik ve dendritik iç yapılı mikrobiyalitler gölün belirli zonları ile sınırlıdır (Zon 2, 3). Mikrobiyalitlerin, makro boyuttaki dış morfolojisi, öncelikle hakim çevresel koşulların etkisi altında şekillenmektedir. Gölün su seviyesindeki mevsimsel dalgalanmalar, sedimantasyon oranlarındaki bölgesel farklılıklar, hakim rüzgar ve akıntılar depolanma ortamını kontrol eden başlıca faktörlerdir. Mikrobiyalitlerin iç büyüme yapısı, mikrobiyal topluluk yapısı ile çökelme ortamının koşullarına bağlıdır. Mikrobiyal tabakada yapılan mineralojik çalışma ile, ilk defa hücre dışı polimerik madde (HPM) ile yakından ilişkili farklı bir SMK minerali olan dipinjit minerali (Mg5(CO3)4.OH2.5H2O) tespit edilmiştir. Mikrobiyalitlerin petrografik incelemeleri, karbonatlar içinde bol miktarda dikey ve dikeye yakın konuma sahip filament (mineralize?) benzeri yapıların varlığını ortaya koymuştur. Nodüler aragonitler genellikle mikrobiyal tabakalarla ilişkili iken, boşluklarda gelişen lifler ve bunların bir araya gelmesi ile oluşan aragonit yelpazeleri, izopak saçaklar göldeki ikincil ve abiyotik karbonat çökelmesine işaret etmektedir. Morfolojik, mineralojik ve dokusal çeşitlilikleri nedeniyle Salda Gölü mikrobiyalitleri hem jeolojik kayıtlardaki Mg-karbonatların hem de Mars kraterlerinden biri olan Jezero Krateri’ndeki paleogölde tespit edilen SMK’ların kökeni ve oluşum süreçlerini ortaya koymak için potansiyel modern bir analogdur. Bu çalışmada, Salda Gölü mikrobiyalitlerinin kökenleri, oluşum mekanizmaları ve biyoiz koruma potansiyeli elde edilen yeni veriler ışığında, değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Salda Gölü
• Mars
• Dipinjit
• Biyoiz
• GB-Türkiye
• Sulu magnezyum karbonat

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