Large development of microbial deposits in a shallow platform after a period of mass extinction

What is it about?

Recurrent microbialite proliferations during the Early Triassic are usually explain by ecological relaxation and abnormal oceanic conditions! The case study of Mineral Mountain supports the claims that the proliferation of microbialites cannot be used as a direct evidence for harsh environmental conditions. Due to the presence of numerous metazoans associated with microbialites throughout the Smithian increase in accommodation and Spathian decrease in accommodation, the commonly assumed anachronistic character of the Early Triassic microbialites and the traditional view of prolonged deleterious conditions during the Early Triassic time interval is questioned.

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Why is it important?

This study questions the commonly accepted view of global deleterious environmental conditions associated with Early Triassic microbialites and, more particularly, within the western USA Basin