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Deep/Cold-Water Coral Reef (Geoform)

Component: Geoform

Unique Identifier: 196

Geoform Origin Biogenic
Geoform Deep/Cold-Water Coral Reef
Geoform Type Biogenic Deep Coral Reef
Deep Coral Carbonate Mound


Description
Definition Reefs formed by deepwater azooxanthellate (i.e., lacking symbiotic algae), stony corals (Order Scleractinia). Aggregations of these colonial corals can form structures that range from small patch reefs that are several meters across, to large reefs and giant carbonate mounds up to 300 meters high and several kilometers in diameter; these reefs form over many thousands to millions of years (Roberts, Wheeler, and Freiwald 2006).