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Sir_Squidstains t1_j821a8d wrote

Cool fact is the islands have so much phosphate as it has been a breeding ground for sea birds over millions of years who shit all over it.

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found_goose t1_j82pxtn wrote

Nauru is a raised coral atoll, which is where much of its phosphate comes from. Though bird crap had its contribution as well.

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Sir_Squidstains t1_j86719x wrote

Yeah the rich phosphate guano has been mainly mined off the island now, the guano has a much higher density of phosphate than coral naturally. Wouldn't be worth mining coral for phosphate if it didn't have the amount of guano Nauru had. Coral itself has barely any phosphate compared to guano

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