How do scientists determine the age of the Great Barrier Reef?

We find the age of reefs (including the GBR) by taking cores and looking at the elemental composition. Reefs are formed over time when corals build their calcium carbonate (limestone) skeletons on top of each other. read more

A similar analysis for the much larger Grand Bahama Reef reveals an age of 790,000 years. And again, this is a minimum age, since that reef also contains numerous unconformities. Young-earth creationists, of course, object to these great ages. They attempt to find alternative explanations for the formation of reefs. read more

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has managed this national treasure for 40 years, working with scientists as members of boards, on research teams and in one-on-one communication between staff and scientists. read more