Acraman impact structure in the context of George E. Williams (geologist)


Acraman impact structure in the context of George E. Williams (geologist)

⭐ Core Definition: Acraman impact structure

Acraman impact structure is a deeply eroded impact crater in the Gawler Ranges of South Australia. Its location is marked by Lake Acraman, a circular ephemeral playa lake about 20 kilometres (12 mi) in diameter. The discovery of the impact structure and independent discovery of its ejecta were first reported in the journal Science in 1986 by George E. Williams and Victor A. Gostin. The evidence for impact includes the presence of shatter cones and shocked quartz in shattered bedrock on islands within Lake Acraman.

The impact structure is deeply eroded, and its original size must be inferred by indirect means. Some authors estimate an original diameter of up to 85 to 90 kilometres (53 to 56 mi), while other suggest a smaller size, perhaps only 35 to 40 kilometres (22 to 25 mi), closer to that of the depression in which Lake Acraman is centred. The larger size estimate would imply an energy release of 5.2 million megatons of TNT.

↓ Menu
HINT:

In this Dossier

Acraman impact structure in the context of Popigai impact structure

The Popigai impact structure is the eroded remnant of an impact crater in northern Siberia, Russia. It is tied with the Acraman impact structure as the fourth largest verified impact structure on Earth. A large bolide impact created the 100-kilometre-diameter (62 mi) crater approximately 35 million years ago during the late Eocene epoch (Priabonian stage). It might be linked to the Eocene–Oligocene extinction event.

The structure is 300 km (190 mi) east from the outpost of Khatanga and 880 km (550 mi) northeast of the city of Norilsk, NNE of the Anabar Plateau. It is designated by UNESCO as a Geopark, a site of special geological heritage. There is a small possibility that the Popigai impact crater may have formed simultaneously with the approximately 35-million-year-old Chesapeake Bay and Toms Canyon impact craters.

View the full Wikipedia page for Popigai impact structure
↑ Return to Menu