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![Close-up of the coral branch in expl8380, showing a cross-section of its growthbands expl8382.jpg Close-up of the coral branch in expl8380, showing a cross-section of its growthbands](/sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/https/s3.amazonaws.com/s3-east-testmedia-noaa.woc.noaa.gov/dam/Photos/legacy/pl23_expl8382.jpg?itok=AEfpb5GT)
Description
Close-up of the coral branch in expl8380, showing a cross-section of its growthbands. At very high resolution, one can count these annual growth bands todetermine age. This particular species deposits both a carbonate (light) andproteinacious (dark) material to form its skeleton. (Image credit: Deepwater Canyons 2013 -Pathways to the Abyss, NOAA-OER/BOEM/USGS | Liz Baird)