Geological Thin Sections > Experimentally Biocemented Landslip Talus by Ian Butler

Thin section of fine grained talus from a landslip in Glen Dochart, near Crianlarich, Perthshire, Scotland. The diameter of the core shown is 38mm. The thin section is has been photographed under crossed polars. Using the ureolytic bacterium Sporosarcina Pasteurii the loose material has been biocemented by calcite precipitation induced by the bacteria. Calcite crystals can be seen as small grains surrounding larger materials and are picked out by their bright white (high-white) interference colours under crossed polars.

This gigapan is part of the production of demonstration materials for the CO2Solstock project which is supported by the EU as a Framework 7 Future Emerging Technologies Network. The specimen demonstrates the potential for microbial precipitation of calcite in porous media, with possible applications for engineering controlled permeability in geological environments.