Hawaii is the youngest and most southeastern of the seven largest Hawaiian islands, while the oldest islands lie to the northwest. Kauai is the oldest and most northwestern big island. Hawaii is also closest to, and Kauai furthest from, the seafloor spreading center from which the Pacific plate originates, located about 5,600 km southeast of the island of Hawaii.

Assuming equal rates of sedimentation from the islands onto the sea floor, which of the following places is the most likely location of the thickest sediment layer and thus the area with the greatest diversity of fossils above the oceanic crust?

A. Where the islands are most concentrated (highest number of islands per unit surface area).

B. Around the base of Kauai, the oldest of the large Hawaiian Islands.

C. Between the island of Hawaii and the seafloor spreading center.

D. Around the island with the largest topographic variety.

E. Around the base of the island of Hawaii.