Sedimentary structures produced by benthic microbial mats have been reported from various ancient shallow-marine deposits, but examples from deep-marine settings are rare. This study focusses on the microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) from fine-grained clastic deposits and carbonates of the Oligocene Menilite Formation that were deposited in a deep-marine environment periodically affected by distal turbidity currents. At the study location, the MISS-bearing deposits are represented by grey to black shales with intercalations of fine-grained sandstones, siltstones and limestones. The MISS were documented in thin sections and using scanning electron microscopy with elemental mapping. Four of the recognised MISS record periods of in-situ formation, which are attributed to a significant sedimentation slowdown, ranging approximately from a few weeks to more than a year. These four MISS include laterally continuous irregularly laminated layers, carbonaceous laminae regularly alternating with calcareous laminae, networks of thin carbonaceous laminae anastomosing between peloids, and irregularly laminated lenses occurring within siltstone-sandstone layers. The other MISS reveal signatures of erosion and redeposition by turbidity currents. They include small lenses representing mat chips and irregularly laminated lenses interfingering with the surrounding mudstone, which represent torn and re-established fragments of mats. The exceptional preservation of articulated fish skeletons that form Konservat-Lagerstätten within the studied succession is explained by the presence of epibenthic mats, which covered the fossil remnants. Microbial overgrowths protected fish carcasses against decay and floating, and facilitated precipitation of early diagenetic carbonates, which enabled fast fossilisation of the remnants.

This study indicates that the interpretation of depositional conditions prevailing in a deep-marine setting may benefit considerably from the analysis of MISS. It also shows that the sedimentation rate of flysch deposits may be more variable than commonly assumed, as hiatus intervals are hidden within both hemipelagic deposits and amalgamated turbidite beds. The identification of various MISS types may be significant in distinguishing turbidites from hemipelagic deposits within homogenous muddy successions.

已经从各种古代浅海沉积物中报告了由底栖微生物垫产生的沉积结构，但深海环境中的实例很少。这项研究的重点是由渐新世半月板岩的细粒碎屑沉积物和碳酸盐形成的微生物诱导的沉积结构（MISS），这些沉积物沉积在深海环境中，周期性地受到远侧浊流的影响。在研究地点，含MISS的矿床以灰色至黑色的页岩为代表，并夹有细粒砂岩，粉砂岩和石灰岩。MISS被薄薄地记录下来，并使用扫描电子显微镜和元素图谱进行了记录。公认的MISS记录中有四个记录为原位形成的时期，这主要归因于沉积速度的显着降低，大约从几周到一年多不等。这四个MISS包括横向连续的不规则叠层，碳质薄片与钙质薄片规则地交替，在倍体之间薄碳质薄片吻合的网络以及粉砂岩-砂岩层中出现的不规则叠层透镜。另一个MISS揭示了浊流侵蚀和再沉积的迹象。它们包括代表垫子碎片的小透镜和与周围泥岩相互交叠的不规则层压透镜，代表了垫子破损和重建的碎片。在研究的演替过程中，形成Konservat-Lagerstätten的铰接鱼骨骼得到了特殊的保存，这可以通过覆盖石化残留物的表皮垫来解释。

这项研究表明，对深海环境中普遍存在的沉积条件的解释可能会从MISS的分析中受益匪浅。它还表明，由于裂隙间隔被隐藏在半潜质沉积物和混浊的混浊物床中，飞石沉积物的沉积速率可能比通常假定的更具可变性。各种MISS类型的鉴定对于区分均质泥质演替中的浊积岩和半沉积沉积物可能具有重要意义。