<p>Coral reefs will grow on any suitable substrate given the basic requirements of sunlight, temperature (optimally 23 to 29 deg C), nutrient availability, and turbidity from waves or current flow.  In the deep ocean these conditions are almost invariably found on volcanic seamounts - hence your original perception. But as Ghost points out, there are no volcanoes in, near or under the Great Barrier Reef. In fact the nearest recent volcanism in Australia is in Western Victoria, nearly 2000 km from the GBR. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-14T11:49:37.537Z
2015-11-14T11:49:37.537Z
Gordon Stanger
<p>Was there ever at any point in time a volcano in the great barrier reef? I thought atolls develop from volcanic islands, and the coral grow around them. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-13T23:35:04.630Z
Have a read of [this similar thread](http://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/4745).
Matt Hall
<geology><volcanology><carbonate>
Volcanoes in the Great Barrier Reef
Lucian09474
# Volcanoes in the Great Barrier Reef

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-13)

Was there ever at any point in time a volcano in the great barrier reef? I thought atolls develop from volcanic islands, and the coral grow around them.

**Tags:** geology, volcanology, carbonate

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Have a read of [this similar thread](http://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/4745).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-11-14. Score: 1

Coral reefs will grow on any suitable substrate given the basic requirements of sunlight, temperature (optimally 23 to 29 deg C), nutrient availability, and turbidity from waves or current flow. In the deep ocean these conditions are almost invariably found on volcanic seamounts - hence your original perception. But as Ghost points out, there are no volcanoes in, near or under the Great Barrier Reef. In fact the nearest recent volcanism in Australia is in Western Victoria, nearly 2000 km from the GBR.


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