ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Coral Rag Formation

Okay kiddo, let's talk about how coral rag forms. So, you know what coral is, right? It's a tiny creature that lives in the ocean and makes a hard skeleton around itself to protect itself. Well, over time, lots and lots of these skeletons can pile up and stick together.

When the ocean levels change or the land shifts, these coral skeletons can end up above water. They'll be really hard and durable because they're made of calcium carbonate, which is the same thing that makes up chalk and limestone. People might see these big masses of coral skeletons and think, "Wow, that's some cool rock!"

But here's the thing - because coral rag is made up of lots of individual coral skeletons, it's not always consistent. Sometimes there will be holes or gaps where a coral didn't grow quite right. It can also vary in color depending on what kind of coral it is and where it came from.

Overall, coral rag is a pretty neat natural formation that happens when lots of little coral creatures work together to make something big. And the best part is, it gives us a glimpse into what the world was like thousands and thousands of years ago. Pretty cool, huh?