Microbialite

thumb|right|Microbialites in Lake Salda rocks thumb|Emerged microbialite formation at Lake Van, East Anatolia alt=|thumb|right|Classification of microbialites (redrawn and simplified from Schmid, 1996).alt=|thumb|right|Stromatolites – laminated microbialites (Precambrian silicified stromatolite, Strelley Pool Chert, (Pilbara Craton), Western Australia|W. Australia)

Microbialite is a benthic sedimentary deposit made of carbonate mud (particle diameter less than 5 μm) that is formed with the mediation of microbes. The constituent carbonate mud is a type of automicrite (or authigenic carbonate mud); therefore, it precipitates in situ instead of being transported and deposited. Being formed in situ, a microbialite can be seen as a type of boundstone where reef builders are microbes, and precipitation of carbonate is biotically induced instead of forming tests, shells or skeletons.