Modern stromatolites in open marine environments, unknown until recent
ly, are common throughout the Exuma Cays, Bahamas. They occur in three
distinct settings: subtidal tidal passes, subtidal sandy embayments a
nd intertidal beaches. These stromatolites have a relief of up to 2.5
m and occur in water depths ranging from intertidal to 10 m. Surfaces
near the sediment-water interface are typically colonized by cyanobact
erial mats, whereas high relief surfaces are commonly colonized by alg
al turf and other macroalgae such as Batophora, Acetabularia, and Sarg
assum. The internal structure of the stromatolites is characterized by
millimeter-scale lamination defined by differential lithification of
agglutinated sediment. In thin section, the lithified laminae appear a
s micritic horizons with distinct microstructures: they consist of thi
n micritic crusts (20-40 mu m thick) overlying layers of micritized se
diment grains (200-1000 mu m thick); the micritized grains are cemente
d at point-contacts and are truncated along a surface of intense micro
boring. The Exuma stromatolites are built by cyanobacterial-dominated
communities. These laminated prokaryotic structures grade to unlayered
thrombolites built by eukaryotic algae. The variety of sites, setting
s and shapes of stromatolites in the Exuma Gays present excellent oppo
rtunities for future studies of stromatolite morphogenesis.