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The carbonate skeleton of a fossil D. dianthus coral is coated in a brown ferromanganese crust, which has to be removed before scientists can analyze the coral for uranium and thorium to determine its age. This coral is about 40,000 years old. The cut section is where a sample was removed for this analysis. Multiple corals have grown both on a fallen Corallium coral skeleton and on one another. Much of the structure is coated in a black or brown ferromanganese crust. Other corals subsequently settle on this buildup, allowing scientists to investigate the relative timing of deep-sea coral settling. (Photo courtesy of Laura Robinson)[back]
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