Stromatolites Forming in Acidic Hot-Spring Waters, North Island, New Zealand

Other| October 01, 2000 Stromatolites Forming in Acidic Hot-Spring Waters, North Island, New Zealand BRIAN JONES; BRIAN JONES 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ROBIN W. RENAUT; ROBIN W. RENAUT 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MICHAEL R. ROSEN MICHAEL R. ROSEN 3Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Wairakei Research Centre, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information BRIAN JONES 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada ROBIN W. RENAUT 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada MICHAEL R. ROSEN 3Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Wairakei Research Centre, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology Accepted: 05 Jun 2000 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1938-5323 Print ISSN: 0883-1351 Society for Sedimentary Geology PALAIOS (2000) 15 (5): 450–475. https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2000)015<0450:SFIAHS>2.0.CO;2 Article history Accepted: 05 Jun 2000 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation BRIAN JONES, ROBIN W. RENAUT, MICHAEL R. ROSEN; Stromatolites Forming in Acidic Hot-Spring Waters, North Island, New Zealand. PALAIOS 2000;; 15 (5): 450–475. doi: https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2000)015<0450:SFIAHS>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyPALAIOS Search Advanced Search Abstract Small spicular, columnar, and blade-shaped stromatolites are common features of hot spring and geyser systems in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of North Island, New Zealand. These organosedimentary structures can grow in many settings, where water temperature and pH vary widely. Although most common in neutral and alkaline waters, stromatolites also are forming in several acid-sulfate spring and geyser systems in the Waiotapu geothermal area and at Lake Rotokawa. Growth of these stromatolites is partly mediated by a biota that is dominated by fungi and locally, diatoms.When stromatolites from acidic thermal waters are compared with those from neutral and alkali waters, significant differences in their biota and mineralogy are evident. The biota in stromatolites from the neutral and alkali waters is dominated by prokaryotic bacteria (including cyanobacteria), whereas stromatolites from acidic waters are dominated by eukaryotic fungi and to a lesser extent, diatoms. Stromatolites in the neutral and alkali thermal waters are formed almost entirely of opaline silica, with calcite laminae present in a few localities. Although stromatolites in the acidic systems also are composed mainly of opaline silica, they contain substantial amounts of kaolinite and, locally, sulfur and/or jarosite. In ancient thermal deposits it may be possible to distinguish stromatolites that grew in acidic waters from those that formed in neutral and alkali systems by considering their preserved biota and mineralogy. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.