Below the coral limestone, surface rocks of an atoll, what would you find?
A) a slab of rifted, continental crust extending down to ocean floor depths
B) a magma chamber of an active shield volcano
C) basaltic volcanic rocks of a truncated seamount
D) an upraised, abyssal plain covered with turbidites

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Atolls form from the growth of coral reefs around a sinking volcanic island. As the island erodes and subsides, the coral continues to grow upwards, maintaining its position at the sea surface, which eventually results in the formation of an atoll. Below the coral limestone and surface rocks of an atoll, you would find the basaltic volcanic rocks of the original volcanic island, now a truncated seamount.

Below the Coral Limestone, Surface Rocks of an Atoll, What