Carbonate mounds in the Santaren Channel, Bahamas: A current-dominated periplatform depositional regime

Principally, two habitats can be distinguished: the Great Bahama Bank periplatform deep-water province dominated by mound type 1 and the Cay Sal Bank slope to basin province occupied by mound type 2 that is associated with pockmark-like structures. Mound type 3 occurs in both habitats. Physical water mass properties for the existence of cold-water corals are limited to a depth range of ca. 430 to 685 m, with seawater densities (σ-θ) of 26.93 to 27.29 kg/m and temperatures below 13 °C. Their dominance off Great Bahama Bank might be addressed to a more effective food supply induced by local downwelling.