Laguna Negra, high Andes Mountains, Argentina

1. I love being in the field!
   
2. Laguna Negra shoreline.
   
3. Vast salt flat in the middle of the lake.
   
4. Microbialite belt
   
5. Spartina grass is the most complex life that can thrive here.
   
6. Stromatolite belt
   
7. Spectacular view of microbialites embedded in the surface of the sediment.
   
8. Microbialites are ringed with sulfide deposits from active sulfate reduction taking place under anoxic conditions beneath the sediment-water interface.
   
9. Investigating morphology
   
10. Hypersaline conditions allow ample precipitation of halite and gypsum atop the microbialtes.
    
11. Salt deposits even trace and highlight sedimentary structures called ripple marks in the lake. Sharpie for scale.
    
12. Beds of calcite deposits intermingle with microbial mats.
    
13. Black sulfide deposits and a stinky smell in the lake are evidence of active bacterial sulfate reduction.
    
14. External coloration clearly distinguishes which side of the microbialite was under the sediment and which side was above.
    
15. Beds of calcite and evaporite deposits intermingle with microbial mats.
    
16. Team headed deeper into the shallow basin.
    
17. Vicuña!
    
18. View to die for.
    
19. Trailblazing.
    
20. Nearby Lake Azul.
    
21. Lovely view on the road.
    
22. Lovely view on the road.
    
23. Lovely view on the road.
    
24. Our paper got the cover of the Geobiology Journal!! Read it here.