Thrombolite patch reefs in mixed carbonate-evaporitic sequence (restricted inner ramp setting).
Part of abstract of ref. 2353: The observed buildups are approximately 3 meters across and 1 meter thick. Each buildup is composed of circular 'heads' of layered microbialite with an internal clotted texture (i.e. thrombolite). Individual heads are approximately 0.5 meters in diameter and 0.25 meters thick. Environmental interpretations of these microbial buildups suggest that they developed in shallow water (< 1 meter water depth).
As many Jurassic thrombolite reefs discussed in the literature have been interpreted to have developed in deep-water settings, examination of these well-exposed Wyoming reefs provides important contributions to extend the distribution of thrombolite reefs into shallow-water environments. 