Geologically, what is the best way to explain the thousands of metres of coral limestone beneath most atolls?
A)Sea level has fallen thousands of metres since the reef began to grow.
B)An eroded volcanic seamount rose thousands of metres after the limestone formed.
C)The eroded volcano slowly sank as sea level remained steady or rose gradually.
D)The volcano never reached the surface, but built a very thick cap of coral limestones from its deep submarine hot springs emissions.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The thousands of meters of coral limestone beneath most atolls can be explained by the gradual sinking of an eroded volcano as sea level either remained steady or rose slowly. As the volcano subsided, the corals continued to grow and form the limestone, ultimately resulting in the characteristic atoll shape we see today.

Geologically, What Is the Best Way to Explain the Thousands