ABSTRACT
An important aspect of phytoplankton and their calcium carbonate armor structures is their role played in the carbon dioxide legacy. This chapter shows that the solubility of calcium carbonate decreased with increasing temperatures. The algae in the blooms seem to produce an excess capacity of armor pieces, the coccoliths made of nearly pure calcium carbonate. Most surface waters of the ocean are “supersaturated” with respect to calcium carbonate. At the topmost layers, photosynthetic processes by abundant phytoplankton, for example, consume carbon dioxide leading to very high supersaturations of calcium carbonate. Natural travertine stepped plateaus form in a process that is essentially the reverse of sinkhole and limestone cave formation. Cement is the key ingredient in concrete and concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. The cement, when mixed with water, gravel, sand, and frequently other materials as well, acts as the glue binding all the ingredients together.
