Microstructure variability in freshwater microbialites, Pavilion Lake, Canada

Calcite microbialites in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia, exhibit a diverse range in macro-morphology, biomass abundance, porosity, and mineral content. To evaluate the role of microorganisms in their formation, samples collected from a range of depths were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and synchrotron radiation-based micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) spectroscopy to characterize both their outer surfaces as well as internal …