Diatom

Thanks for the kind remarks. Yes, the microscope is pretty nifty. A Leica. A decent camera helps as well.

Diatoms are microscopic golden/brown algae that have intricately marked glass-like shells (frustules). The markings on the shells are best seen when you treat the diatom with a strong acid to remove all the inner stuff. The frustule itself is virtually indestructible. Diatoms can be found anywhere there is water. Some can swim while others do not; some species band together to form long chains or tight colonies. I hope this helps.