https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.995587Westphal, HildegardHildegardWestphal0000-0001-7324-6122Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, GermanyGaruglieri, ElisaElisaGaruglieriKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyWebb, Gregory EGregory EWebb0000-0002-9206-978XUniversity of Queensland, BrisbaneNothdurft, LukeLukeNothdurft0000-0001-9646-9070Queensland University of TechnologyMerkel, AnnaAnnaMerkelFriedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-NürnbergKhanna, PankajPankajKhanna0000-0001-7165-3082Indian Institute of Technology GandhinagarKarki, PoornimaPoornimaKarkiIndian Institute of Technology GandhinagarNohl, TheresaTheresaNohl0000-0001-8670-0478University of ViennaGischler, EberhardEberhardGischlerGoethe University FrankfurtWebster, Jody MJody MWebster0000-0002-0005-6448University of SydneyPANGAEA2026biosignaturesCoral ReefHawaiian Drowned ReefsmicrobialitesPleistoceneEvent labelSample code/labelHalfDescriptionImageBenthic Portable Remotely Operated Drill (PROD5)DSDP/ODP/IODP sample designationExp389MMA Valour2023-09-10T00:00:00/2023-10-16T00:00:00Dataset10.5194/egusphere-2026-1564156 data pointstext/tab-separated-valuesCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 InternationalFor the study of the Pleistocene reef microbialites from Hawaii, samples were examined under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to identify microbial features allowing for biological identification. With SEM imaging of microbialite surfaces and vertical polished sections, we characterize the ultrastructure of the crusts and identify trapped and bound particles as well as any microbial remains that might allow identification of the microbes, e.g., filaments that are indicative of taxonomic determination. SEM analysis with a secondary electron (SE) detector was performed with a Teneo-VS SEM at the KAUST Imaging and Characterization Core Lab, and a Tescan Vega LMU at the ZMT Geosciences Laboratory.-156.0628769-154.953999919.8703105720.28987123Hawaii, USA