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Extensive eruptions in Indonesia of volcanic debris have repeatedly buried forests and nearby reefs offshore as well. During burial, the decay of the volcanic ash releases mobile silica and other elements which saturate formation waters and in some situations reacts with the carbonate of the buried coralline reefs or other organic matter such as wood from buried forests. The volcanic islands of Indonesia are host to numerous deposits of fossil coral. The Barisan Mountain Range, along the western boundary of the Island of Sumatra, hosts a rare and ornate suite of fossils. Miocene age (approx 20 million year old) coralline reefs and near shore forests were preserved by burial in volcanic sediments rich in minerals including iron, manganese and silica. Thru a combination of processes the full pattern and character of the original coral life forms have been preserved in great detail.