The discovery of dolomite contained within a living organism has begun to answer questions about coral that have been puzzling researchers for more than 100 years.
Dolomite is a magnesium-rich carbonate mineral, abundant in fossil reefs, but up until now it has appeared to be absent from modern reefs.
But researchers have discovered dolomite packed within Hydrolithon onkodes, a species of red algae.
This apparent absence of dolomite within modern sedimentary environments was reconciled while scientists were researching the effect of climate change on red algae.
The algae works with coral by cementing the reef structure against the hydraulic pressure of the waves.
Read more at Australian National University