Geomicrobiology is a rapidly growing
field in sedimentary geology. Yet, 20
years ago this month, Folk presented numerous SEM images
that illustrated micro-organisms associated with carbonate sediment and cement
from Holocene travertines, hardgrounds, and ooids, and from rocks as well. The data presented intriguing evidence for
the role of micro-organisms in precipitation of carbonate minerals, leading him
to conclude “the minute interface between bacteria and carbonate petrology may
be lilliputian in scale but are conceivably gargantuan in importance….”
SEM Imaging of Bacteria andNannobacteria in Carbonate Sediments and Rocks by Robert L. Folk, Journal of Sedimentary Petrology,
v. 63, p. 990-999.
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