Calcium Carbonate Collection (#2)

Travertine terraces at Pamukkale, Turkey
Travertine Terraces at Pamukkale. Hot springs rich in carbonate minerals forming these spectacular white terraces. The ancient city of Hierapolis is built on top of the hill

Settlement under calcium carbonate mine at Barz, near Abyaneh, Iran, Middle East

USA, California, Mono Lake. Storm-lit tufa towers. Credit as: Dennis Flaherty / Jaynes Gallery / DanitaDelimont

USA, California, Mono Lake. Hills and tufas reflect in lake. Credit as: Dennis Flaherty / Jaynes Gallery / DanitaDelimont

Devil's Thumb, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wyoming, United States of America, North America

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wyoming, United States of America, NorthA America

Folded strata in high limestone cliffs, Samaria Gorge N. P. White Mountains, Crete, Greece, May
Folded strata in high limestone cliffs, Samaria Gorge N.P. White Mountains, Crete, Greece, May

Cuttlefish bone

Foraminiferan fossil, SEM
Foraminiferan fossil. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the fossilised shell (test) of a foraminiferan. Foraminifera are single-celled marine protozoa that construct

Calcareous phytoplankton fossil, SEM Z100 / 0212
Calcareous phytoplankton fossil. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a fossil of the skeleton (coccosphere) of a coccolithotrope, a small marine algal organism

Foraminiferan tests (shells), macrophotograph. Species seen here include Bulimina gibba, Elphidium crispum, E. articulatum, Lagena sulcata, and Miliolinella circularis

Foraminiferan fossil, SEM Z110 / 0239
Foraminiferan fossil. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the fossilised shell (test) of a foraminiferan. Foraminifera are single-celled marine protozoa that construct

Geothermal pool, Hierve el Agua, Mexico C018 / 8579
Geothermal pool, Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca state, Mexico. This site includes waterfall-like rock formations or curtains that rise many metres from the valley below to a set of artificial

Calcium carbonate curtain formation C018 / 8577
Calcium carbonate curtain formation. This formation of calcium carbonate has been deposited as calcium minerals from a hot spring precipitate out of solution

Stone crab. Front view of an Aethra scruposa stone crab, showing its spiny upper shell (carapace). This crab lives in the Indian Ocean around Mauritius and the Mascarene Islands

Mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus). This crab lives in colonies amongst the mangroves and mudbanks along the Atlantic coast of South America. The carapace (shell) of this specimen measures 10cm wide

Pebble crab (Etisus utilis). This crab lives at a depth of 10-15 metres in the Indo-Pacific regions. Its carapace (upper shell)

Shame-faced crab (Calappa calappa). This crab lives at a depth of 10-50 metres in the Indo-Pacific regions. Shame-faced crabs are so-named due to the way the crabs chelae (claws)

Lissa ciragra crab. This crab lives at a depth of 30-60 metres in the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas. The carapace (shell) of this specimen measures 5cm wide

Limescale, SEM F006 / 9816
Limescale, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Limescale, which occurs when hard water is boiled, is composed of calcium or magnesium carbonate

Limescale, SEM F006 / 9815
Limescale, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Limescale, which occurs when hard water is boiled, is composed of calcium or magnesium carbonate

Foraminiferan shell, SEM C018 / 0312
Foraminiferan shell, SEM

Coccolithophore alga, SEM C019 / 0233
Coccolithphore. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of part of a coccolithophore unicellular marine alga. It is surrounded by a skeleton (coccosphere) of calcium carbonate plates (coccoliths)

Coccolithophore alga, SEM C019 / 0234
Coccolithphore. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of part of a coccolithophore unicellular marine alga. It is surrounded by a skeleton (coccosphere) of calcium carbonate plates (coccoliths)

Coccolithophore alga, SEM C019 / 0224
Coccolithphore. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a coccolithophore unicellular marine alga. It is surrounded by a skeleton (coccosphere) of calcium carbonate plates (coccoliths)

Lime kiln, artwork
Lime kiln. Cutaway artwork showing the internal and external structure of a traditional lime kiln. The kiln has a cone-shaped burning chamber, two air inlets at the base, and is constructed of brick

Foraminiferan, darkfield light micrograph. Foraminifera are marine single-celled protozoa that construct and inhabit shells composed of several chambers

Glyptoxanthus labyrinthicus crab. This crab is found on reefs along the Pacific coast of South America. Its carapace (upper shell) is covered in a series of channels (shown here)

Nerja Cave, Andalucia, Spain
Interior of the so called Cataclysm Chamber in the Nerja caves complex. Discovered by accident in 1959 by local children, the cave complex extends over 7 km into the Karstified limestone landscape of

Great spider crab and bryozoa. Great spider crab (Hyas araneus) carrying a bryozoan colony. This crab lives at a depth of 500-2000 metres in Atlantic waters and the North Sea

Male fiddler crab (Uca tetragonon). This crab is found throughout Polynesia. Male fiddler crabs (Uca sp.) communicate to rivals and potential mates by a sequence of waves

Ghost crab (Ocypode cursor). This crab is found on sandy beaches along the coasts of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and eastern Mediterranean Sea

Carrier crab (Homolochunia kullar). This crab lives at a depth of 500-1000 metres in the Pacific Ocean around New Caledonia and Eastern Australia. Unusually, it has rear and front pincers

Calthrop crab (Rhinolambrus contrarius). This crab lives at a depth of 50-60 metres in Indonesia and the West Pacific. The carapace (shell) of this specimen measures 4cm wide

Foraminifera, light micrograph C016 / 8597
Foraminifera. Interphase contrast light micrograph of a selection of different foraminifera. Foraminifera are marine single-celled protozoa that construct

Underwater limestone cave formations C015 / 3977
Underwater limestone cave formations with scuba divers. These formations are in Chandelier Cave, located near Koror, in Palau, a group of islands in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific Ocean

Underwater limestone cave formations. These formations are in Chandelier Cave, located near Koror, in Palau, a group of islands in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific Ocean

Limestone pinnacles C014 / 1589
Limestone pinnacles. View past exposed tufa limestone pinnacles across Mono Lake, California, USA. Tufa is a variety of limestone

Limescale, SEM C017 / 8492
Limescale deposits, from the surface of a water heater. Limescale forms on the surfaces of heating elements, kettles, boilers, etc. in hard water areas

Red frog crab (Ranina ranina). This edible crab lives at a depth of 10-15 metres on the sea bed of the Indo-West Pacific, from the African east coast to Japan and across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii

Moon crab (Matuta victor). This swimming crab is found in the Indo-West Pacific and has legs that are flattened to enable it to swim efficiently through the water

Male Poupinia hirsuta crab. This crab lives at a depth of around 450 metres in Polynesia. The discovery of Poupinia hirsuta was a great scientific event for carcinologists (specialists in crabs)

Guard crab (Trapezia rufopunctata). This crab lives on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, Maldives and Polynesia. The carapace (shell) of this specimen measures 2cm wide

Human-faced crab (Dorippe quadridens). This crab is found at a depth of 30-100 metres, throughout the South China Sea, Vietnam and the Indopacific, from Madagascar to Australia

Fossilised foraminiferan, SEM C015 / 5772
Fossilised foraminiferan. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through the fossilised shell of a foraminiferan in a sample of limestone

Spotted rock crab (Carpilius maculatus). This edible crab lives at a depth of 10-15 metres in the Indo-West Pacific. Its carapace (upper shell)

Dover Harbour, UK
Dover Harbour. View of a breakwater at the entrance to Dover Harbour, UK, with the famous White Cliffs in the background

Limestone pavement C016 / 5824
Limestone pavement. This limestone rock has been shaped by natural chemical erosion. Carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in rainwater to form carbonic acid

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Calcium carbonate, a fascinating mineral with diverse forms and applications. From the intricate calcareous phytoplankton fossils captured under SEM Z100 / 0213 to the mesmerizing microfossils revealed through SEM, its presence is undeniable. The existence of coelosphaeridium, a calcareous alga, further showcases the versatility of this compound. Oolitic limestone stands as a testament to calcium carbonate's ability to form unique geological structures. Its formation process leaves behind captivating patterns that captivate our imagination. And who can forget limescale crystals? Under SEM, they reveal their intricate beauty and remind us of nature's artistry. Gastropod microfossils discovered under SEM offer glimpses into ancient marine ecosystems while travertine terraces at Minerva Spring in Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park leave visitors awestruck by their grandeur. Calcareous sinter terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs in Wyoming add vibrant colors to the landscape, showcasing nature's palette. Tufas on Mono Lake in California present an enchanting sight with their towering formations and colored rocks that come alive during nightfall. Foraminiferan microfossils observed under SEM provide valuable insights into past environments and climate change. In winter at Tangled Creek within Yellowstone National Park lies another marvel – calcified trees adorned with calcium carbonate formations glistening against the snowy backdrop. These natural wonders serve as reminders of both time's passage and the enduring power of calcium carbonate. Whether it be fossilized remains or stunning geological formations across various landscapes like Yellowstone National Park or Mono Lake in California, calcium carbonate continues to amaze us with its myriad manifestations throughout history and around the world.