Calcium Carbonate Collection (#3)

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

Lithostrotion, coral fossil C016 / 4843
Lithostrotion, coral fossil. Corals comprise a soft bodied animal called a polyp. Each polyp inhabits a calcareous skeleton called a corallum. This specimen dates from the Carboniferous

Lonsdaleia, coral fossil C016 / 4841
Lonsdaleia, coral fossil. Corals comprise a soft bodied animal called a polyp. Each polyp inhabits a calcareous skeleton called a corallum. This specimen dates from the Carboniferous

Sea fan coral C013 / 9774
Sea fan coral. Close-up of a collected sea fan coral specimen. Sea fans are colonies of tiny coral organisms (polyps) that build hard structures around themselves for protection and support

calcite veining in limestone
Calcite (calcium carbonate) veining in limestone. Photographed in Cape Range National Park, Australia

Calcite C013 / 6674
Calcite. Sample of rock containing calcite (white) crystals. Calcite (calcium carbonate CaCO3) is the most important and widespread carbonate mineral on earth. Specimen from Tennesee, USA

Calcite C013 / 6639
Calcite consists almost entirely of calcium carbonate. It is the main constituent of limestone and marble. This is a specimen of Iceland spar from Rodefjord, Iceland

Double refraction in a calcite crystal C013 / 6638
Double refraction (birefringrnce) in a calcite crystal. this phenomenon occurs where a material is not uniform and affects light differently in different directions (anisotropy)

Double refraction in a calcite crystal C013 / 6637
Double refraction (birefringrnce) in a calcite crystal. this phenomenon occurs where a material is not uniform and affects light differently in different directions (anisotropy)

Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, Shark Bay, Western Australia. This area is famous for its stromatolites, mineralised microbial communities formed from cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)

Diploneis diatom, SEM C013 / 5110
Diploneis diatom, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Diatoms are single-celled photosynthetic algae, of which there are about 100, 000 species

Coccolithophorid plankton, SEM C013 / 5109
Coccolithophorid plankton. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the external mineralised structure (coccosphere) of a small marine algal organism called a coccolithophore

Cuttlefish bone SEM
Cuttlefish bone. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the internal structure of cuttlefish (Sepia sp.) bone, or internal shell, mostly composed of calcium carbonate

Chickens egg outer shell detail, SEM
Chickens egg outer shell detail, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Hard-shelled eggs are produced by birds and some reptiles. The shell protects the growing embryo inside

Broken egg shell, SEM
Broken egg shell, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Hard-shelled eggs are produced by birds and some reptiles. The shell protects the embryo inside

Egg shell membrane, SEM
Egg shell membrane, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Broken egg shell, showing details of the membrane (across bottom) that is on the inside of the shell wall

Limescale crystals, SEM
Limescale crystals, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Limescale is the term for calcium carbonate deposited on household surfaces and appliances from the water supply

Kettle fur limescale
Kettle fur". Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of fur from a domestic kettle, showing the crystals that form in a hard water area

Calcareous Sandstone, Bermuda 1873
A photograph taken during the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876), funded by the British Government for scientific purposes

Quaternary fissure breccia
Watercolour drawing of a fissure breccia from the Quaternary period (Pleistocene Epoch or Ice Age), fossilised with mammalian bones. From a collection of original watercolour drawings, c

Tarnowitzite, a variety of aragonite
Pale yellowish radiating prisms of aragonite on a matrix. Aragonite comprises of (calcium carbonate). Part of specimen from Tsumeb, Namibia

Strontianite comprises of strontium carbonate with white spiky crystals and derives from the aragonite group. This specimen is from the collections held at the Natural History Museum, London

Arachnophyllum, coral
Image depicts an Arachnophyllum, a Silurian coral. Corals comprise a soft bodied animal called a polyp. Each polyp inhabits a calcareous skeleton called a corallum

Halysites a coral
Halysites, a Silurian coral also known as a chain coral. Corals comprise a soft bodied animal called a polyp. Each polyp inhabits a calcareous skeleton called a corallum

Aragonite specimen

Pentremites spicatus, blastoid
A Carboniferous blastoid from Grayson Co, Kentucky, U.S.A

Raphiidonema faringdone, calcareous sponge
A vase-shaped calcareous sponge with numerous small canals from the Cretaceous of Berkshire, England

Lithostrotion, coral
Shown here is a Carboniferous coral. Corals comprise a soft bodied animal called a polyp. Each polyp inhabits a calcareous skeleton called a corallum

Lonsdaleia, coral
Shown here is the Carboniferous coral, Lonsdaleia. Corals comprise a soft bodied animal called a polyp. Each polyp inhabits a calcareous skeleton called a corallum

Silurian limestone in quarry, showing layered bedding over reef formation, Knowle Quarry, Wenlock Edge, Shropshire, England, April

Silurian limestone in quarry, showing bedding, Wenlock Edge, Shropshire, England, April

Silurian limestone in quarry, showing reef formation, Wenlock Edge, Shropshire, England, April

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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.