Mammoth Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. While underground, the water gathers its minerals from limestone, and then deposits these minerals above ground to create these calcium carbonate formations. Algae living on the steps that still have flowing water give these formations their color. Terrace Mountain at Mammoth Hot Springs is the largest known calcium carbonate depositing spring in the world. Over the years, earthquakes have caused the spring vents to shift, leaving some terraces dry.