Structures/textures of living/fossil microbialites and their implications in biogenicity. An astrobiological point of view

Atacama's microbialites, able to live in such extreme environment, are possible candidates as models for searching life in other planets or moons. At present, little is known about their microstructures and composition. This study analyzes, mainly, the terrestrial microstructures in a dimensional fiel longer than 0.1 mm, through an original approach using photographs and macro pictures , appropriately magnified and consequently little defocused, in comparison with analogous images shot by NASA Rovers on Martian outcroppings.