A microbe-bryozoan reef from the middle Visean of the Namur Syncline (Enginoul quarry)

A microbe-bryozoan patch-reef was temporarily exposed in the Lives Formation (middle Visean) at the Engihoul Quarry, southern limb of the Namur syncline. It developed within the Corphalie Member during the transition from bioclastic to stromatolitic facies. Reef formation is the result of a complex meshwork of calcified microbes, which formed complex layers which resemble “Osagia”-biocenose and individual columnar aggregates, fenestellid bryozoans, and early cements. Reef growth began on a hard-substrate provided by brachiopods and microbial crusts. Brachiopods (Composita sp.) are locally abun... Mehr ...