Marine Geology March 2011, Volume 282, Issues 1-2, Pages 53-64 Archimer http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2010.08.006 http://archimer.ifremer.fr © 2011, Elsevier ailable on the publisher Web site The Moira Mounds, small cold-water coral banks in the Porcupine Seabight, NE Atlantic: Part A—an early stage growth phase for future coral carbonate mounds? A.J. Wheelera, *, M. Kozachenkob, , L.-A. Henryc, , A. Foubertd, , H. de Haase, , V.A.I. Huvennef , D.G. Massonf, and K. Olug a Department of Geology & Environmental Research Institute, University College, Cork, College Rd., Cork, Ireland b Coastal & Marine Resources Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Irish blisher-authenticated version is av Naval Base, Haulbowline, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland c Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK d Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, K.U. Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium e Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, The Netherlands f National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK g IFREMER, Centre de Brest, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané, France * Corresponding author : A.J. Wheeler, Tel.: + 353 21 4903951/1943; fax: + 353 21 4271565, email address :
[email protected] Abstract: This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the Moira Mounds in the Porcupine Seabight, combining a review of currently published material with new data and ccepted for publication following peer review. The definitive pu interpretations. The Moira Mounds are circular to ovoid-shaped individual or clustered coral banks (referred to as “scleractinian spaced cluster macroreefs”) located in the Belgica (carbonate) mound province, Porcupine Seabight, west of Ireland.