How do carbonate sand and mud become part of a coral reef system?

Carbonate sand and mud become part of a coral reef system primarily through the accumulation of skeletal debris and the stabilizing activities of reef-associated organisms.12

As stony corals and other calcifying organisms—such as mollusks, echinoderms, and calcareous algae—grow, their calcium carbonate skeletons are subjected to erosion by wave activity and storms. This process generates abundant skeletal fragments that wash into or fall into the gaps between living coral colonies.134

These sediments are further integrated into the reef complex through several mechanisms:
* Stabilization: Plants and algae, such as seagrasses, mangroves, and blue-green algal mats, trap and stabilize the loose sediment.2
* Cementation: Other organisms, particularly certain algae and protozoans, bind and cement these fragments together. Chemical processes, including dissolution and redeposition, eventually transform these accumulations into solid rock.153
* Accretion: Storms and currents move fragmental material to form beaches and shoals, which are then accreted to the overall reef structure.23