Of uncertain geologic origin, it is part of a larger cluster of submarine mountains and rises to a depth of 255 metres (837 ft) below sea level.

Especially the southern among these underwater mountains are poorly studied;[6] together with the Canary Islands proper they form an important volcanic province in the Atlantic Ocean.

[7] Aside from the seamounts, submarine canyons and large debris flows occur in the region[8] such as the Sahara Slide which has run around Echo Bank.

[9] Echo Bank rises from the continental slope to a depth of about 300 metres (980 ft) below sea level, making it the shallowest seamount in the region.

[13] The slopes of the seamount are steep and cut by curved slide scars and gullies which both reach lengths of 12–13 kilometres (7.5–8.1 mi).

[16] The geological origin of the Canary Islands Seamounts are unclear, with various hotspot processes as well as crustal and mantle phenomena proposed.

[14] Dredged samples of the ferromanganese crusts consist mainly of goethite and manganese dioxide and minor amounts of calcite, phyllosilicate and quartz.