Calcium Carbonate Collection (#4)

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

USA, California, Mono Lake. Lake reflections in south tufa area

USA, California. Sunrise on Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve tufa formations

USA, California, Mono Lake. Snow-covered mountains and the lake in winter

USA, California, Mono Lake. Snow-covered tufa formations after a clearing winter storm

Calcareous phytoplankton fossil, artwork
Calcareous phytoplankton fossil. Artwork of a fossil of the skeleton (coccosphere) of a coccolithotrope, a small marine algal organism

Plankton cell wall, SEM
Plankton cell wall. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the geometrical plates making up the mineralised cell wall of a planktonic alga (Coronosphaera mediterranea)

Calcareous phytoplankton plates, SEM
Calcareous phytoplankton plates. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of parts of the skeleton (coccosphere) of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi, a small marine algal organism

Fire coral (Millepora sp.). This organism is not a true coral, but instead a colonial hydrozoan that is closely related to jellyfish

Sea urchin spine, transverse section
Sea urchin spine. Polarised light micrograph of a transverse section through a spine from the edible sea urchin (Echinus esculentus)

Broken egg shell edge, SEM
Broken egg shell edge. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the edge of a fragment of an egg shell. Hard-shelled eggs are produced by birds and some reptiles

Egg shell material, SEM
Egg shell material. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the lattice making up the fine structure of an egg shell. Most of an egg shell is calcium carbonate

Fossil debris in chalk, SEM
Fossil debris in chalk. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a fossilised fragment of a coccolithotrope skeleton

River flowing over travertine deposits at Plitvice National Park, Croatia. Travertine is a mineral precipitated from streams super- saturated with bicarbonates

Plitvice National Park
Plitvice national Park, Croatia. Series of lakes and waterfalls separated by travertine dams. Travertine is a mineral precipitated from streams super-saturated with bicarbonates

Travertine dam. River cascading over a travertine dam at Plitvice National Park, Croatia. Travertine is a mineral precipitated from streams super- saturated with bicarbonates

Trilobite eye fossil, SEM
Trilobite eye fossil, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Trilobites were arthropods, the shelled segmented invertebrates that include crabs and insects and spiders

Trilobite fossil, SEM
Trilobite fossil, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Trilobites were arthropods, the shelled segmented invertebrates that include crabs and insects and spiders

Mineral terrace at the Pamukkale Hot Springs
Pamukkale mineral terrace. Limestone (calcium carbonate) terraces at the Pamukkale (meaning " castle of cotton" ) hot spring site, Turkey

Egg chemical reaction, 19th century
Egg chemical reaction. The reaction uses hydrochloric acid which reacts with the calcium carbonate in the egg shell to produce the white foam seen here (due to the carbon dioxide produced)

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

Lake Mono at sunset. This lake in California, USA, is an important habitat for species of bird. In the mid-20th century the lakes tributaries were diverted to support the growth of Los Angeles

Tufa towers at Lake Mono, California, USA. Tufa is a mineral deposit formed by the precipitation of calcium salts from water saturated with bicarbonates

Tufa towers at Lake Mono, California, USA. Tufa is a mineral deposit formed by the precipitation of calcium salts from water saturated with bicarbonates

Mammoth Hot Springs mineral terrace in the Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. The terraces form at the outflow of geothermal springs. The water is heated under pressure deep underground

Mineral terrace. The white material on the terrace is the mineral travertine. These terraces form at the outflow of a geothermal spring

Chicken reproduction, artwork
Chicken reproduction. Cutaway artwork of a female chicken, showing the internal process that produces its egg. The sequence progresses from upper left to lower right

Polished limestone. Three samples of polished limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary rock that consists mainly of calcium carbonate. The different colours are caused by impurities

Rock strata in cliff face, Hunstanton
Cliffs at Hunstanton, Norfolk, showing three distinct layers of rock. At the bottom is Carstone (ginger brown), a coarse and gritty sandstone from the Lower Cretaceous

Pearl in a shell. Pearls are accretions of nacre (calcium carbonate) secreted by certain oysters and mussels. The presence of a foreign body (such as a parasite or a grain of sand)

Travertine ridge at Drevenik National Nature Reserve, Slovakia. The layers of limestone rock seen here were formed successively by the precipitation of calcium carbonate from ground water emerging

Marble. Surface of polished Italian marble. Marble is a metamorphic rock mainly composed of calcite (calcium carbonate). Traces of impurities give marble its variety of colours

Balancing stone from inner ear, SEM
Balancing stone from inner ear. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of crystals of calcium carbonate on the surface of a human otolith

Coccoliths, SEM
Coccoliths, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Coccoliths are individual plates of calcium carbonate formed by coccolithophores (single-celled algae)

Coral uplifted by volcanic activity
Coral that has been uplifted above sea level by volcanic activity. The coral is long-dead, but the mineral structure remains, composed mostly of calcium minerals

Sample of limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the mineral calcite (calcium carbonate). Sedimentary rocks are formed by the compaction of water deposits over long periods of

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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.