ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY SPHEROIDAL STRUCTURES FOUND AT THE BASE OF ARAGONITIC BOTRYOIDS

The objective of this project is to test the hypothesis that spherical to subspherical structures found in samples deposited during icehouse sea conditions were originally organic in origin. Samples were collected from the Permian Reef, Capitan Formation and Lighthouse Reef Bluehole. Samples were studied in thin section, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The samples showed similar patterns of micritic, microbial, dendritic shrub structures that seem to transition into aragonite botryoids. At the core of the dendritic structures are vast amounts of spherical to subspherical assemblies that may be interpreted as organic structures. These spheroidal structures may be serving as an organic substrate for the aragonite and calcite crystals. Precipitation experiments were conducted to grow calcite and aragonite crystals along with organic molecules in order to replicate the structures found from the sample sites. The organic structures were very similar to what was found at the three sample sites. Even though the organic structures are similar, it is very circumstantial and further research is required to determine if the spheroidal structures are organic and if they promote the growth of aragonitic botryoids.