carbonate burial

Carbonate burial refers to the process where carbonate minerals, mainly from marine organisms like corals and shellfish, settle at the bottom of oceans and become buried under layers of sediment. Over time, these layers are compacted and can form carbonate rocks such as limestone. This process is important because it helps lock away carbon from the atmosphere, influencing Earth's climate over millions of years. Essentially, carbonate burial is a natural way the planet stores carbon deep underground, balancing the global carbon cycle and contributing to the formation of significant sedimentary rock formations.