As the coastal region continued to thrust upward, the shallowest sections of coral reef rose above sea level, resulting in a layer of limestone. This rock has been mined for many years by the cement industry, but has begun to be depleted in recent years.
當地殼不斷抬起，含有碳酸鈣成分的珊瑚礁變成了陸地，星羅棋佈於高屏地區，也成了水泥的上好材料。墾丁隨著珊瑚礁被往上推擠，地表越上層年紀越高齡。