Publications (under construction, for an updated list see CV)

In this paper we combine different microscopy techniques as well as microbial diversity studies to understand microbial influence in carbonate precipitation.

Gomez, F.J., Mlewski, C., Boidi, F., Farías, M.E., Gerard, E. 2018. Calcium carbonate precipitation within diatom-rich microbial mats: The Laguna Negra hypersaline lake, Catamarca (Argentina). Journal of Sedimentary Research,. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2018.37

In this paper, we examined isotopic and elemental signatures in carbonate microbialites a.k.a microbially-mediated rocks. The concentric bands inside the rock preserve a time-series of lake evolution. Much like tree rings, these laminations allow reconstruction of lake history through interpretation of paired isotopes of carbon, sedimentary organic matter, and trace metal content.

J. Buongiorno, F.J. Gomez, D.A. Fike, L.C. Kah. 2019. Mineralized microbialites as archives of environmental evolution, Laguna Negra, Catamarca Province, Argentina. Geobiology,. 10.1111/gbi.12327

This was our first paper in the laguna Negra hypersaline system, focused on understanding the carbonate microtextures and isotope signature (carbon and oxygen) in the Laguna Negra oncoids and laminar crusts with the goal of understanding abiotic and biological processes controlling carbonate precipitation.

Gomez, F.J., Kah, L.C., Bartley, J., and Astini, R.A. 2014. Microbialites in High-Altitude Andean Lakes: Multiple controls in carbonate precipitation and lamina accretion. Palaios,. https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2013.049

Here we combine different microscopy techniques and microbiology, including Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Laser Microdissection and Whole Genome Amplification, Cloning and Sanger sequencing, and Focused Ion Beam milling for Transmission Electron Microscopy to explore carbonate mineralization of cyanobacteria (Rivularia).

Mlewski, E.C., Pisapia, C., Gomez, F., Lecourt, L., Soto Rueda, E., Benzerara, K. Ménez, B., Borensztajn, S., Jamme, F., Réfrégiers, M., and Gérard, E. 2018. Characterization of Pustular Mats and Related Rivularia-Rich Laminations in Oncoids From the Laguna Negra Lake (Argentina). Frontiers in Microbiology,. 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00996

Here we review some general aspects of the micro-textures of the Laguna Negra microbial carbonates and diversity of the associated microbial mats.

Boidi, F.J., Mlewski, C.E., Gomez, F.J., Gerard, E. 2020. Characterization of Microbialites and Microbial Mats of the Laguna Negra Hypersaline Lake (Puna of Catamarca, Argentina). Microbial Ecosystems in Central Andes Extreme Environments,. 978-3-030-36192-1

This paper reports a new finding of a tabulate-like coralomorph forming part of biostratigraphically well-constrained reef mounds in the latest Cambrian–Early Ordovician La Silla Formation in the Argentine Precordillera. The oldest record of the coralomorph genus Amsassia is reported and a new species, A. argentina, is erected. The discovery of this genus in the lowermost Ordovician modifies the previously proposed paleogeographic distribution and patterns of origination and migration routes of this coral-like organism.

Carrera, M.G., Astini, R.A., Gomez, F.J. 2016. A lowermost Ordovician tabulate-like coralomorph from the Precordillera of western Argentina: a main component of a reef-framework consortium. Journal of Paleontology,. 1937-2337