Middle Oxfordian sponges-microbialites mounds from La Manga Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina

Middle Oxfordian sponges-microbialites mounds from La Manga Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Middle Oxfordian sponges-microbialites mounds from La Manga Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina Ricardo Manuel Palma, Martin Hoqui, Jose López Gómez, Javier Martín-Chivelet This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6046961/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The Neuquén basin, Argentina, shows magnificent outcrops of Jurassic sedimentary sequences, both of continental and marine origin, including some carbonate platforms. Few attention has been paid, within those platforms, to sponge-microbialite mounds. This work addresses their characterization in the La Manga Formation, from both outcrop stratigraphy and thin sections petrography. Data from ammonites place these mounds within the Perisphinctes Araucanites Zone, belonging to the Middle Oxfordian. The framework of La Manga Fm. mounds consists of hexactinellid sponges and microbialites. The latter grew as a thin crust on the walls of the sponges and can be dense, peloidal, or microlaminated. Microbialites together with micritic matrix, microencrusters, and microbial crusts, played a significant role in the development on mound structure. The laminated or massive crust grew on already lithified surfaces, as suggested the presence of encrusting organisms in some of the mounds, as is the case of encrusting serpulids and thin colonies of bryozoans. Based on their size, shape and lack of internal bedding, two types of mounds were differentiated. Based on the nature of the skeleton and the type of organism growing in their framework, the development of Hexactinellid sponges can be related to low energy mid-distal carbonate ramp environments. They grew under controlling factors such as nutrients, alkalinity, and oxygenation. A comparison with other described Jurassic microbialites has been carried out with special focus on the western Tethys area. Sponges mound types microbialites Upper Jurassic Neuquén Basin Argentina Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Full Text Additional Declarations This "conflict of interest" has been communicated to us by Elizaveta Lives (Springer Production Journals) who have proposed that we choose another editor, other than the co-authors, in order to resolve said "conflict of Interest". We have already sent to Elizaveta and Nishita Gajendragadkar (Associate Publisher) the name of the person who will act as editor. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6046961","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":422253099,"identity":"09bae214-9179-4157-8210-553c6da94ad6","order_by":0,"name":"Ricardo Manuel Palma","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA3ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACxgMMDDVyjO0NQLaBBXF6gFqOGTP3HABpkSBaC3Ni+4wEEJsILeazmx8culHDZsw78/nVDT8KJBj427sT8GqRuXPM4HDOMRk5ydk5ZTd7gA6TOHN2A14tEhIJQC1sbMaGs3PSbvAAtRhI5BLSkv7hcM4/5sT9N8+k3fxDnJYcg8O5bcyJjTPYj90mzhaZMwWHc/uOGTP25LDdljGQ4CHsF+n2jY9zvoGi8vizm2/+2Mjxt/fi14IUETwGYBK/clQt7A8Iqx4Fo2AUjIIRCQB++0ru7GgfMgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6962-571X","institution":"Universidad de Buenos Aires Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ricardo","middleName":"Manuel","lastName":"Palma","suffix":""},{"id":422253100,"identity":"79eae2a0-f688-42be-ac54-00a33ac831d9","order_by":1,"name":"Martin Hoqui","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Buenos Aires: Universidad de Buenos Aires","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Martin","middleName":"","lastName":"Hoqui","suffix":""},{"id":422253101,"identity":"d42b6609-00e9-4530-a9d8-a67243a663ab","order_by":2,"name":"Jose López Gómez","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Complutense de Madrid","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jose","middleName":"López","lastName":"Gómez","suffix":""},{"id":422253102,"identity":"63f7655f-c3e4-4490-95c9-c6e65cbee0d2","order_by":3,"name":"Javier Martín-Chivelet","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Complutense de Madrid Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Javier","middleName":"","lastName":"Martín-Chivelet","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-02-17 10:32:07","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6046961/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6046961/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":78634650,"identity":"b13a9b35-f398-4c54-92a8-5b011a42fed7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:48:56","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1072003,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003ea) Location map of the Neuquén Basin with indication of the studied área (Modified from Palma et al. 2015), b) Satelital view from the studied localities take from Google Earth. References: 1) Portal de Bardas; 2) Quebrada de Leiva; 3) Potimalal river; 4) Cohiueco creek; 5). Manquimalal creek; 6) Mallín Redondo.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/c4a3f8d26e84fed0f65db9ca.png"},{"id":78635179,"identity":"591bbda2-f0b0-4531-88fe-b84eb36cea65","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:56:56","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1187830,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eCallovian-Oxfordian biostratigraphy with a comparison of the Standard Ammonite Zones and Andean Ammonite Zones (after Riccardi, 2008). Modified from Palma et al. (2012).\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/abce8e1afdd0e926355d6dbb.png"},{"id":78634649,"identity":"54cc1d5a-6767-4d08-9947-52759c6e5c3f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:48:56","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":4493,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eThin section and schematic map of the mound with sponges, microbialites, and some components of the framework. References: sp:.sponges; se: serpulids; bw: bioerosión; mb: microbialites; mdp: dense peloidal micrite; mc: microbial crust.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"fig.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/b44f90dbd80446a759eba5f6.png"},{"id":78634654,"identity":"59cb6ea2-4e7f-4fd5-8bd6-e11ba182f398","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:48:56","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1396317,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSponge –microbialite mounds – type 1. a) Outcrop from La Manga Formation at Portal de Bardas. The white arrow indicates the location of small mound; b) Close -up wiew of the mound at this locality. References: tf: sponge tubiforms; os: osculum;- Scale: Pencil 14,5 cm; c) Small domal spongemicrobialites mound at Portal de Bardas. References: tf: sponge tubiforms; os: osculum. Scale: Pencil 14,5cm; d) Plan view of sponge showing the sponge wall and osculum. References: dm: dense micrite; e) Detailed of a calcitized sponge. Note clotted peloidal micrite. References: sp: sponge; p: peloids; gc: granular calcite crystals. Scale: 0,5mm; f) Network of preserved calcitized spicule sponges distribiuted in a dense peloidal micrite. References. ss: spicule sponge; pm: peloidal micrite; dpm: dense peloidal micrite. Scale: 0,5mm.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/e9e851d3e8686f259d205179.png"},{"id":78634657,"identity":"b1e0225c-f242-4cd0-aee7-6dfe1aac8120","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:48:56","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":10173352,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSponge –microbialite mounds – type 1. a) Well preserved regular echinoderm within the structure of the mound. References. ech: echinoderm. Scale: cap: 5 cm; b) Sponge body encrusted by a thin and dense micrbial crust following by a convex microstromatolite. References: sp: sponge, cml: convex microbial laminae; nb: nubeculariids; pm: peloidal micrite; all: alomicrite. Scale: 2,5 cm; c) Sponge body is encrusted with convex microbialites. Note the differences between the lower left and upper right sections of the image. References: sp: sponge; cml: convex microbial laminae; mdp: micrite dense peloidal; all: allomicrite; oy: oyster; ox: iron oxides. Microfractures and seams of a few millimeters filled by normal or ferroan microsparite calcite crystals appear breaking the framework. Scale. 2,5 cm; d) Sponge perforated by lithofagus bivalves. References: sp: sponges. Lth: lithofagus bivalves; bw: bierosion; mc: microbial crust; tb: tuberoid; bu: undetermined bivalves. Scale: 2,5 cm; e) The image shows a longitudinal section of a gastropod shell that has been dissolved and recrystallized to normal calcite. The chambers of the shell are filled with microsparite calcite crystals or peloids. References: mdp: micrite dense peloidal; ss: spicule sponge; bv: bivalve; tb: tuberoid. Scale: 1,5 mm; f) On the sponge bodies, serpulids have grown. The serpulid worm tube exhibits a wellpreserved wall structure, with the interior displaying recrystallized microsparite calcite crystals and peloids. References: sp: sponge; se: serpulid; bv: bivalve; gc; granular calcite crystals. Scale:0,2 mm\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/f1262e62970d29fb4674ed2c.png"},{"id":78635182,"identity":"6fcf69ca-7ee1-4cb6-9415-8ec232d4a0ae","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:56:56","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1599111,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSponge –microbialite mounds – type 2. a) An outcrop from sponge – microboalite at Quebrada de Leiva. Scale: hammer = 33 cm; b) Close-up view of the mound at this localitty. References: tf: tubiform sponges; os: osculum; bw: bioerosion; c) Outer surface wiew of two sponge bodies in which channel openings have a square arrangement. A fragment of ostreid is encrusted. References: ost: ostreid; ch: cannel arrangement; 6d) Thin section of Hexactinellida sponge showing its typical internal structure. Evidence of bioerosion is also recognizable. References: dpm: dense peloidal micrite; cml: convex microbial laminae; br: briozooan; bw: bioerosion; dpm: dense peloidal micrite. Scale: 2,5 mm; 6e) Thin section of two sponge bodies that are separated from each other by microbialites. References: sp: sponge; se: sepulids; be: bioerosion; msp: microsparitic calcite crystals; cml: convex microbial laminae; lt: leilolite; mp: micro-peloids; dpm: dense peloidal micrite. Scale: 2 mm; 6f) Longitudinal section of an Hexactinellida sponge showing clotted peloidal micrite resulting from the decomposition of the organic tissue of the sponges. References: cpm: clotted peloidal micrite; msp: microsparite calcite crystals. Scale:0,5 mm.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/20eac333fc507edb043c9f99.png"},{"id":78635180,"identity":"f9cc8c97-70b4-4e7c-9ee3-5c8c03941641","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:56:56","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1639435,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSponge –microbialite mounds – type 2. a) Detailed of the network of spicule sponges showing their preservation as normal calcite and ferroan calcite. References: ss: spicule sponges; dpm: dense peloidal micrite; spc sparite calcite crystals of normal and ferroan composition. Scale: 0,5 mm; 7b) Detailed of sponge perforated by a lithofagus bivalve that appear disarticulated. The cavity is filled with a dense. References: sp: sponge; lth: lithofagus bivalve; dpm: dense peloidal micrite. Scale: 0,5 mm; 7c) Microbialite with well defined laminae and nubeculariids. The matrix varies from dense texture at the bottom, to more spaced towards the top. References: cml: convex microbial laminae; nb: nubeculariids; bw: bioerosion cavity filled with micropeloids. Scale: 0,5 mm; 7d) Close-up view of the laminae rich in nubeculariid foraminifers. Referenes: cml: convex microbial laminae: nb: nubeculariid foraminifers. Scale: 0,2 mm; 7e) Fragment of an echinoderm plate with its classic structure and appearing partially silicified. Referenes: ech: echinoderm; dpm: dense peloidal micrite; sp: sponge; si: silicification. Scale: 0,5 mm; 7f) A colony of recrystallized and partially silicified encrusting serpulids was observe don the sponges. References: ser: serpulids; sp: sponge; se: serpulids tb: tuberoid; dpm: dense peloidal micrite. Scale: 0,5 mm.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/6dd8267ca4b52aa792f7ec5c.png"},{"id":78634659,"identity":"17e3d20e-eeb2-4729-994b-54e1e5c17517","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:48:56","extension":"png","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1869596,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSponge –microbialite mounds – type 2. 8a) Encrusting bryozooans on sponge. References: sp: sponge; br: briozooan; se: serpulid; dpm: dense peloidal micrite; mp: micrite peloidal. Scale: 1.5 mm; 8b) Detailed view of bryozooan with thin zooecial filled with micrite over a dense crust of micrite. References. Sp: sponge; br: bryozooan; cml: convex microlaminae; nb: nubeculariid. Scale: 2,5 mm; 8c) Uniseriate foraminifer with its chambers filled with micropeloids or microsparite calcite crystals. References: fr: foraminifera; bv: bivalve; ss: sponge spicules; p: pleloids; tb: tuberoids. Scale: 0,2 mm; 8d) Detailed of sponge spicules dispersed in a peloidal matrix. References: ss: sponge spicules; cpm: clotted peloidal micrite; msp: microspatite calcite crystals. Scale: 0,5 mm; 8e) Aspects of the bioclastic wackestone matrix. References:; tb: tuberoids; Bv: bivalve; ss: sponge spicules; oy:: ostreid. Scale: 0,5 mm; 8f) Close-up view of micrite cristals through the SEM in which a coalescent fabric can be seen;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig8.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/633d93e31bf0995027c84291.png"},{"id":78634653,"identity":"9f71d048-a010-4c35-9063-f9b4c7a3d586","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-17 04:48:56","extension":"png","order_by":9,"title":"Figure 9","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":202483,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSurface with a level of Thallasinoides that is common to all of the localities studied.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig9.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1/a98d12564dde95ba08b8d5d9.png"},{"id":80295613,"identity":"ab54cc23-e273-4d9c-998d-07e5559e116b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 08:35:23","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":10210733,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"MiddleOxfordianspongesmicrobialites.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6046961/v1_covered_eb91ed80-e9bf-457d-8ca1-84305c484743.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"\u003cp\u003eThis \"conflict of interest\" has been communicated to us by Elizaveta Lives (Springer Production Journals) \u0026nbsp;who have proposed that we choose another editor, other than the co-authors, in order to resolve said \"conflict of Interest\". We have already sent to \u0026nbsp;Elizaveta and Nishita Gajendragadkar (Associate Publisher) the name of the person who will act as editor.\u003c/p\u003e","formattedTitle":"Middle Oxfordian sponges-microbialites mounds from La Manga Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Sponges mound types, microbialites, Upper Jurassic, Neuquén Basin, Argentina","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6046961/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6046961/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe Neuquén basin, Argentina, shows magnificent outcrops of Jurassic sedimentary sequences, both of continental and marine origin, including some carbonate platforms. Few attention has been paid, within those platforms, to sponge-microbialite mounds. This work addresses their characterization in the La Manga Formation, from both outcrop stratigraphy and thin sections petrography. Data from ammonites place these mounds within the Perisphinctes Araucanites Zone, belonging to the Middle Oxfordian.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe framework of La Manga Fm. mounds consists of hexactinellid sponges and microbialites. The latter grew as a thin crust on the walls of the sponges and can be dense, peloidal, or microlaminated. Microbialites together with micritic matrix, microencrusters, and microbial crusts, played a significant role in the development on mound structure. The laminated or massive crust grew on already lithified surfaces, as suggested the presence of encrusting organisms in some of the mounds, as is the case of encrusting serpulids and thin colonies of bryozoans. Based on their size, shape and lack of internal bedding, two types of mounds were differentiated.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the nature of the skeleton and the type of organism growing in their framework, the development of Hexactinellid sponges can be related to low energy mid-distal carbonate ramp environments. They grew under controlling factors such as nutrients, alkalinity, and oxygenation. A comparison with other described Jurassic microbialites has been carried out with special focus on the western Tethys area.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Middle Oxfordian sponges-microbialites mounds from La Manga Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-03-17 04:48:51","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6046961/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"dcc85f41-8cef-4f72-b006-2a3976482a39","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 17th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-04-10T08:27:05+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-03-17 04:48:51","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6046961","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6046961","identity":"rs-6046961","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}