Fig. 5

Mesoscopic and microscopic characteristics of the spotted thrombolites. a Polished slab of the spotted thrombolites, showing black clots and grey interstitial sediments; b Photomicrograph of microsparry spotted clots and micritic interstitial sediments. “Lobate structures” are marked by the arrow. Plane-polarized light; c Enlargement of the rectangle in b, showing poorly-preserved PLFs (marked by arrows). Plane-polarized light