According to the
Planetary and Space Science Centre (PASSC) at the University of New Brunswick in Canada, there are 190 confirmed
impact structures on Earth. Each is recorded in a database called the
Earth Impact Database (EID).
List of confirmed and possible impact structures
The following tables list geological features on Earth that are known impact events as well as possible, but for which there is currently no confirming scientific evidence in the peer-reviewed literature, impact events. In order for a structure to be confirmed as an impact crater, it must meet a stringent set of well-established criteria. Some proposed impact structures are likely to eventually be confirmed, whereas others are likely to be shown to have been misidentified (see below). Recent extensive surveys have been done for Australian (2005), African (2014), and South American (2015) craters, as well as those in the Arab world (2016). A book review by A. Crósta and U. Reimold disputes some of the evidence presented for several of the South American structures.
Name
Location
Country
Diameter (km)
Age (Ma )
Confirmed
Notes
Image
Coordinates
38th Parallel structures
Missouri , etc.
United States
2-17
320 ± 10
37°30′N 88°18′W / 37.5°N 88.3°W / 37.5; -88.3 (Hicks Dome ) 37°48′N 90°12′W / 37.8°N 90.2°W / 37.8; -90.2 (Avon crater ) 37°48′N 91°24′W / 37.8°N 91.4°W / 37.8; -91.4 (Crooked Creek crater ) 37°54′N 92°42′W / 37.9°N 92.7°W / 37.9; -92.7 (Decaturville crater ) 37°42′N 92°24′W / 37.7°N 92.4°W / 37.7; -92.4 (Hazelgreen crater ) 38°00′N 93°36′W / 38.0°N 93.6°W / 38.0; -93.6 (Weaubleau-Osceola structure ) 37°42′N 95°42′W / 37.7°N 95.7°W / 37.7; -95.7 (Rose Dome )
Acraman
South Australia
Australia
90
590
Yes
32°1′S 135°27′E / 32.017°S 135.450°E / -32.017; 135.450
Ak-Bura (Murgab )
Tajikistan
Tajikistan
0.080
0.0003 (1700 AD)
38°5′38.5″N 74°16′58″E / 38.094028°N 74.28278°E / 38.094028; 74.28278 (Ak-Bura )
Al Madafi
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
6
6-66
28°40′N 37°11′E / 28.67°N 37.18°E / 28.67; 37.18 (Al Madafi )
Alamo bolide impact
Nevada
United States
100 ± 40
367
37°19′N 116°11′W / 37.31°N 116.18°W / 37.31; -116.18 (Alamo )
Amelia Creek
Northern Territory
Australia
20
600-1660
Yes
20°55′S 134°50′E
Ames
Oklahoma
United States
470 ± 30
Yes
36° 17′ 4″ N, 98° 11′ 38″ W
Amguid
Algeria
<1
Yes
26° 5′ 16″ N, 4° 23′ 43″ E
Anéfis
Mali
Mali
3.9
23?
18°04′19″N 0°02′53″W / 18.072°N 0.048°W / 18.072; -0.048 (Anefis )
Aorounga Central
Chad
Chad
11.6
<345
Yes
19°13′44″N 19°15′40″E / 19.229°N 19.261°E / 19.229; 19.261 (Aorounga center )
Aouelloul
Mauritania
Mauritania
0.39
3.0 ± 0.3
Yes
Araguainha
Central Brazil
Brazil
40
244.4
Yes
16°47′S 52°59′W
Arganaty
Almaty region
Kazakhstan
300
250
46°30′N 79°48′E / 46.5°N 79.8°E / 46.5; 79.8 (Arganaty )
Arlit
Niger
Niger
10
?
21°21′11″N 9°08′42″E / 21.353°N 9.145°E / 21.353; 9.145 (Arlit )
Avak
Alaska
United States
12
3-95
Yes
Azuara
Spain
Spain
35-40
30-40
41°07′N 0°13′W / 41.117°N 0.217°W / 41.117; -0.217 (Azuara )
Bajada del Diablo
Argentina
Argentina
40
0.45 ± 0.3
42°49′S 67°28′W / 42.817°S 67.467°W / -42.817; -67.467 (Bajada del Diablo )
Bajo Hondo
Argentina
Argentina
3.9
<10
42°17′44″S 67°55′27″W / 42.295454°S 67.924133°W / -42.295454; -67.924133 (Bajo Hondo )
Bangui magnetic anomaly
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
600-800?
>542
6°00′N 18°18′E / 6°N 18.3°E / 6; 18.3 (Bangui )
Barringer Meteorite
Arizona
United States
1.18
0.049 ± 0.003
Yes
Bateke Plateau
Gabon
Gabon
7.1
<2.6
0°38′45″S 14°27′29″E / 0.64583°S 14.45806°E / -0.64583; 14.45806 (Bateke )
Beaverhead
Montana
United States
60
600
Yes
44°15′N 114°0′W
Bedout
Australia (offshore)
Australia
250
250
18°S 119°E / 18°S 119°E / -18; 119 (Bedout )
Beyenchime-Salaatin
Russia
Russia
8
40 ± 20
Yes
Bee Bluff
Texas
United States
2.4
40?
29°02′N 99°51′W / 29.03°N 99.85°W / 29.03; -99.85 (Bee Bluff )
Bigach
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
8
5 ± 3
Yes
Björkö
Björkö, Ekerö
Sweden
10
1200
59°18′N 17°36′E / 59.30°N 17.60°E / 59.30; 17.60 (Björkö )
Bloody Creek
Nova Scotia
Canada
40
?
44°45′N 65°14′W / 44.750°N 65.233°W / 44.750; -65.233 (Bloody Creek )
Bohemian
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
260-300
>700?
50°00′N 14°42′E / 50.0°N 14.7°E / 50.0; 14.7 (Bohemian )
Boltysh
Kirovohrad Oblast
Ukraine
24
65.17
Yes
48°54′N 32°15′E
Bow City
Alberta
Canada
8
70
50°25′N 112°16′W / 50.417°N 112.267°W / 50.417; -112.267 (Bow City )
Bowers
Antarctic Ocean (Ross Sea )
100
3-5
71°12′S 176°00′E / 71.2°S 176°E / -71.2; 176 (Bowers )
Brushy Creek Feature
Louisiana
United States
2.0
0.011–0.030
30°46′N 90°44′W / 30.76°N 90.73°W / 30.76; -90.73 (Brushy Creek Feature )
Bukit Bunuh
Perak
Malaysia
5–6
1.34–1.84
5°04′30″N 100°58′30″E / 5.075°N 100.975°E / 5.075; 100.975 (Bukit Bunuh )
Burckle
Indian Ocean
30?
3000 BC
30°52′S 61°22′E / 30.86°S 61.36°E / -30.86; 61.36 (Burckle )
Carswell
Saskatchewan
Canada
39
115
Yes
58°27′N 109°30′W
Catalina structures (Navy, Catalina, Emery Knoll)
Pacific Ocean (NE)
12, 32, 37
16-18
32°55′N 118°05′W / 32.91°N 118.09°W / 32.91; -118.09 (Catalina )
Cerro do Jarau
Paraná
Brazil
10
117
30°12′S 56°32′W / 30.200°S 56.533°W / -30.200; -56.533 (Cerro )
Charity Shoal
Ontario
Canada
1.2
<470
44°2′15″N 76°29′37″W / 44.03750°N 76.49361°W / 44.03750; -76.49361 (Charity Shoal )
Charlevoix
Quebec
Canada
54
342
Yes
47°32′N 70°18′W
Chesapeake Bay
Virginia
United States
40
34.86 ± 0.23
Yes
37°17′N 76°1′W
Clearwater East
Quebec
Canada
26
460-470
Yes
Clearwater West
Quebec
Canada
36
290
Yes
56°13′N 74°30′W
Chicxulub
Yucatán
Mexico
150
66.051 ± 0.031
Yes
21°20′N 89°30′W
Corossol
Quebec
Canada
4
<470
50°03′N 66°23′W / 50.050°N 66.383°W / 50.050; -66.383 (Corossol )
Darwin Crater
Tasmania
Australia
1.2
0.816
42°19′S 145°40′E / 42.317°S 145.667°E / -42.317; 145.667 (Darwin crater )
Decorah
Iowa
United States
5.6
470
43°18′50″N 91°46′20″W / 43.31389°N 91.77222°W / 43.31389; -91.77222 (Decorah )
Deniliquin
New South Wales
Australia
520
400–500
No
35°32′0″S 144°58′0″E / 35.53333°S 144.96667°E / -35.53333; 144.96667 (Deniliquin )
Dhala
Madhya Pradesh
India
11
1700-2100
Yes
25°18′N 78°8′E
Diamantina River ring feature
Queensland
Australia
120
300
22°09′S 141°54′E / 22.150°S 141.900°E / -22.150; 141.900 (Winton crustal anomaly )
Dumas magnetic anomaly
Saskatchewan
Canada
3.2
70 ± 5
49°55′N 102°07′W / 49.92°N 102.12°W / 49.92; -102.12 (Dumas )
Duolun
Inner Mongolia
China
120 ± 50
129 ± 3
42°3′N 116°15′E / 42.050°N 116.250°E / 42.050; 116.250 (Duolun )
El-Baz
Egypt
Egypt
4
?
24°12′N 26°24′E / 24.200°N 26.400°E / 24.200; 26.400 (El-Baz )
Eltanin
Pacific Ocean (SE)
35?
2.5
57°47′S 90°47′W / 57.783°S 90.783°W / -57.783; -90.783 (Eltanin )
Faya Basin
Chad
Chad
2
385 ± 15
18°10′N 19°34′E / 18.167°N 19.567°E / 18.167; 19.567 (Faya )
Falkland Plateau anomaly
Atlantic Ocean (near Falkland Islands )
250-300
250
51°S 62°W / 51°S 62°W / -51; -62 (Malvinas )
Fried Egg structure
Atlantic Ocean (near Azores )
6
17
36°N 27°W / 36°N 27°W / 36; -27 (Fried Egg )
Garet El Lefet
Libya
Libya
3
?
25°00′N 16°30′E / 25.0°N 16.5°E / 25.0; 16.5 ("Garet El Lefet" )
Gatun
Panama
Panama
3
20
09°05′58″N 79°47′22″W / 9.09944°N 79.78944°W / 9.09944; -79.78944 (Gatun structure )
General San Martín
Argentina
Argentina
11
1.2
38°0′S 63°18′W / 38.000°S 63.300°W / -38.000; -63.300 (General San Martin )
Gnargoo
Western Australia
Australia
75
<300
24°48′24″S 115°13′29″E / 24.80667°S 115.22472°E / -24.80667; 115.22472 (Gnargoo )
Gosses Bluff
Northern Territory
Australia
22
142.5
Yes
23°49′S 132°18′E
Guarda
Portugal
Portugal
30
200
40°38′N 07°06′W / 40.633°N 7.100°W / 40.633; -7.100 (Guarda )
Hartney anomaly
Manitoba
Canada
8
120 ± 20
49°24′N 100°40′W / 49.4°N 100.67°W / 49.4; -100.67 (Hartney )
Haughton
Nunavut
Canada
23
39
Yes
75°23′N 89°40′W
Hiawatha
Greenland
Greenland
31
57.99 ± 0.54
78°44′N 66°14′W / 78.733°N 66.233°W / 78.733; -66.233 (Hiawatha )
Hico
Texas
United States
9
<60
32°01′N 98°02′W / 32.01°N 98.03°W / 32.01; -98.03 (Hico )
Hotchkiss
Alberta
Canada
4
220 ± 100
57°32′20″N 118°52′41″W / 57.539°N 118.878°W / 57.539; -118.878 (Hotchkiss )
Howell
Tennessee
United States
2.5
380 ± 10
35°14′N 86°37′W / 35.23°N 86.61°W / 35.23; -86.61 (Howell )
Ibn-Batutah
Libya
Libya
2.5
120 ± 20
21°34′10″N 20°50′15″E / 21.56944°N 20.83750°E / 21.56944; 20.83750 (Ibn-Batutah )
Ilumetsa
Põlva County
Estonia
0.08
0.0066 (<4600 BC)
57°57′N 27°24′E / 57.950°N 27.400°E / 57.950; 27.400
Ishim
Akmola region
Kazakhstan
300
430-460
52°0′N 69°0′E / 52.000°N 69.000°E / 52.000; 69.000 (Ishim Akmola )
Iturralde
Bolivia
Bolivia
8.0
0.011–0.030
12°35′S 67°40′W / 12.583°S 67.667°W / -12.583; -67.667 (Iturralde )
Jackpine Creek magnetic anomaly
British Columbia
Canada
25
120 ± 20
55°36′N 120°06′W / 55.6°N 120.1°W / 55.6; -120.1 (Jackpine )
Jalapasquillo
Puebla
Mexico
1.2
<10
19°13′23″N 97°25′44″W / 19.2231°N 97.429°W / 19.2231; -97.429 (Jalapasquillo )
Jebel Hadid
Libya
Libya
4.7
<66
20°52′12″N 22°42′18″E / 20.87000°N 22.70500°E / 20.87000; 22.70500 (Jebel Hadid )
Jeptha Knob
Kentucky
United States
4.3
425
38°11′N 85°07′W / 38.183°N 85.117°W / 38.183; -85.117 (Jeptha Knob )
Johnsonville
South Carolina
United States
11
300?
33°49′N 79°22′W / 33.817°N 79.367°W / 33.817; -79.367 (Snows Island )
Jwaneng South
Botswana
Botswana
1.3
<66
24°42′S 24°46′E / 24.700°S 24.767°E / -24.700; 24.767 (Jwaneng South )
Kamensk
Southern Federal District
Russia
25
49
Yes
48°21′N 40°30′E
Kebira
Egypt
Egypt
31
100
24°40′N 24°58′E / 24.667°N 24.967°E / 24.667; 24.967 (Kebira )
Kilmichael
Mississippi
United States
13
45
33°30′N 89°33′W / 33.5°N 89.55°W / 33.5; -89.55 (Kilmichael )
Krk
Croatia
Croatia
12
40
45°04′N 14°37′E / 45.06°N 14.62°E / 45.06; 14.62 (Krk )
Kurai Basin
Altai Region
Russia
20
<200
50°12′N 87°54′E / 50.200°N 87.900°E / 50.200; 87.900 (Kurai )
La Dulce
Argentina
Argentina
2.8
0.445?
38°13′S 59°13′W / 38.21°S 59.21°W / -38.21; -59.21 (La Dulce )
Labynkyr
Russia
Russia
67
150?
62°19′30″N 143°05′24″E / 62.325°N 143.090°E / 62.325; 143.090 (Labynkyr )
Lac Iro
Chad
Chad
13
?
10°10′N 19°40′E / 10.167°N 19.667°E / 10.167; 19.667 (Iro Lake )
Lairg Gravity Low
Scotland
Scotland
40
1200
58°1′12″N, 4°24′0″W
Lake Cheko
Siberia
Russia
50
0.0001 (1908 AD )
60°57′50″N 101°51′36″E / 60.964°N 101.86°E / 60.964; 101.86 (Cheko )
Lake Tai (Tai Hu)
Jiangsu
China
70 ± 5
365 ± 5
31°14′N 120°8′E / 31.233°N 120.133°E / 31.233; 120.133 (Tai )
Loch Leven
Scotland
Scotland
18x8
290
56°12′N 3°23′W / 56.200°N 3.383°W / 56.200; -3.383 (Loch Leven )
Lonar
Deccan Plateau, Southern India
India
1.83
0.57 ± 0.05
Yes
Lorne Basin
New South Wales
Australia
30
250 ± 2
31°36′S 152°37′E / 31.60°S 152.62°E / -31.60; 152.62 (Lorne )
Lycksele 2
Sweden
Sweden
130
1500 ± 300
64°55′N 18°47′E / 64.92°N 18.78°E / 64.92; 18.78 (Lycksele )
Madagascar 3
Madagascar
Madagascar
12
?
18°50′20″S 46°13′16″E / 18.839°S 46.221°E / -18.839; 46.221 (Madagascar )
Magyarmecske anomaly
Hungary
Hungary
7
299
45°57′N 17°58′E / 45.95°N 17.97°E / 45.95; 17.97 (Magyarmecske )
Mahuika
New Zealand (offshore)
New Zealand
20?
0.0006 (1400 AD)
48°18′S 166°24′E / 48.3°S 166.4°E / -48.3; 166.4 (Mahuika )
Manicouagan
Quebec
Canada
100
215.56 ± 0.05
Yes
51°23′N 68°42′W
Maniitsoq
Greenland
Greenland
100
3000
65°15′N 51°50′W / 65.250°N 51.833°W / 65.250; -51.833 (Maniitsoq )
Mejaouda (El Mrayer)
Mauritania
Mauritania
3
<542?
22°43′19″N 7°18′43″W / 22.722°N 7.312°W / 22.722; -7.312 (Mejaouda )
Merewether
Newfoundland
Canada
20
0.0009 (1100 AD)
58°02′N 64°03′W / 58.04°N 64.05°W / 58.04; -64.05 (Merewether )
Meseta de la Barda Negra
Argentina
Argentina
1.5
4 ± 1
39°10′S 69°53′W / 39.167°S 69.883°W / -39.167; -69.883 (Barda Negra )
Middle-Urals Ring
Russia
Russia
400–550
>542
56°N 56°E / 56°N 56°E / 56; 56 (Urals Ring )
Mistassini-Otish
Quebec
Canada
600
2200
50°34′N 73°25′W / 50.57°N 73.42°W / 50.57; -73.42 (Mistassini lake )
Mount Ashmore dome
Indian Ocean (in Timor Sea )
>50
35
12°33′S 123°12′E / 12.55°S 123.2°E / -12.55; 123.2
Mousso
Chad
Chad
3.8
<542
17°58′N 19°53′E / 17.967°N 19.883°E / 17.967; 19.883 (Mousso )
Mt. Oikeyama
Japan
Japan
90
0.030?
35°24′18″N 138°00′47″E / 35.405°N 138.013°E / 35.405; 138.013 (Oikeyama )
Mulkarra
South Australia
Australia
17
105
27°51′S 138°55′E / 27.85°S 138.92°E / -27.85; 138.92 (Mulkarra )
Nastapoka (Hudson Bay) arc
Quebec
Canada
450
1800?
57°00′N 78°50′W / 57.000°N 78.833°W / 57.000; -78.833 (Hudson Bay )
Nadir
Atlantic Ocean (Guinea Plateau, West Africa)
≥8.5
66 ± 0.8
9°24′N 17°06′W / 9.4°N 17.1°W / 9.4; -17.1 (Nadir )
Ouro Ndia
Mali
Mali
3
<2.6
14°59.8′N 4°30.0′W / 14.9967°N 4.5000°W / 14.9967; -4.5000 (Ouro Ndia )
Pantasma
Nicaragua
Nicaragua
10
?
13°22′N 85°57′W / 13.37°N 85.95°W / 13.37; -85.95 (Pantasma )
Panther Mountain
New York
United States
10
375
42°03′N 74°24′W / 42.050°N 74.400°W / 42.050; -74.400 (Panther Mountain )
Peerless
Montana
United States
6
470 ± 10
48°48′N 105°48′W / 48.8°N 105.8°W / 48.8; -105.8 (Peerless )
Piratininga
Paraná
Brazil
12
117
22°28′S 49°09′W / 22.467°S 49.150°W / -22.467; -49.150 (Piratininga )
Popigai
Siberia
Siberia
100
35.7±0.2
Yes
71°39′N 111°11′E
Praia Grande
Santos Basin , offshore
Brazil
20
84
25°39′S 45°37′W / 25.650°S 45.617°W / -25.650; -45.617 (prai grande )
Ramgarh
Rajasthan
India
3
?
25°20′16″N 76°37′29″E / 25.33778°N 76.62472°E / 25.33778; 76.62472 (Ramgarh )
Rochechouart impact structure
Rochechouart
France
23
206.9
45°49′27″N 0°46′54″E / 45.82417°N 0.78167°E / 45.82417; 0.78167
Ross
Antarctic Ocean (Ross Sea )
600?
<38
77°30′S 178°30′E / 77.5°S 178.5°E / -77.5; 178.5 (Ross )
Rubielos de la Cérida
Spain
Spain
80x40
30-40
40°46′59″N 1°15′00″W / 40.783°N 1.25°W / 40.783; -1.25 (Rubielos )
Sakhalinka
Pacific Ocean (NW)
12
70
30°15′N 170°03′E / 30.250°N 170.050°E / 30.250; 170.050 (Sakhalinka )
São Miguel do Tapuio
Piauí
Brazil
22
120
5°37.6′S 41°23.3′W / 5.6267°S 41.3883°W / -5.6267; -41.3883 (Sao Miguel Do Tapuio )
Shanghewan
Jilin
China
30
?
44°29′N 126°11′E / 44.483°N 126.183°E / 44.483; 126.183 (Shangewan )
Shiva
Indian Ocean
500
66
18°40′N 70°14′E / 18.667°N 70.233°E / 18.667; 70.233 (Shiva )
Shiyli
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
5.5
46 ± 7
49°10′N 57°51′E / 49.167°N 57.850°E / 49.167; 57.850 (Shiyli )
Silverpit
Atlantic Ocean (North Sea )
20
60 ± 15
54°14′N 1°51′E / 54.233°N 1.850°E / 54.233; 1.850 (Silverpit )
Sirente
Italy
Italy
10
0.0017 (320 ± 90 AD)
42°10′38″N 13°35′45″E / 42.17722°N 13.59583°E / 42.17722; 13.59583 (Sirente )
Sithylemenkat Lake
Alaska
United States
12
0.033?
66°07′34″N 151°23′20″W / 66.12611°N 151.38889°W / 66.12611; -151.38889 (Sithylemenkat )
Smerdyacheye Lake
Russia
Russia
20
0.01–0.03?
55°44′06″N 39°49′23″E / 55.735°N 39.823°E / 55.735; 39.823 (Smerdyacheye )
Sudan 1 (Red Sea Hills )
Sudan
Sudan
6
?
17°57.1′N 37°56.1′E / 17.9517°N 37.9350°E / 17.9517; 37.9350 (Red Sea )
Sudan 2 (Bayuda)
Sudan
Sudan
10
?
18°03.5′N 33°30.2′E / 18.0583°N 33.5033°E / 18.0583; 33.5033 (Bayuda )
Sudan 3 (Mahas)
Sudan
Sudan
2.8
?
20°01.9′N 30°13.7′E / 20.0317°N 30.2283°E / 20.0317; 30.2283 (Mahas )
Sudbury
Ontario
Canada
130
1849
Yes
46°36′N 81°11′W
Svetloyar Lake
Russia
Russia
40
0.0026 (600 BC)
56°49′08″N 45°05′35″E / 56.819°N 45.093°E / 56.819; 45.093 (Svetloyar )
Takamatsu
Japan
Japan
4-8
15
34°18′N 134°03′E / 34.3°N 134.05°E / 34.3; 134.05 (Takamatsu )
Tarek (Gilf Kebir )
Egypt
Egypt
2.1
112?
24°36′04″N 27°12′18″E / 24.601°N 27.205°E / 24.601; 27.205 (Tarek )
Tatarsky North
Pacific Ocean (NW)
14
?
49°57′35″N 141°23′40″E / 49.95972°N 141.39444°E / 49.95972; 141.39444 (Tatarsky1 )
Tatarsky South
Pacific Ocean (NW)
20
?
48°17′38″N 141°23′40″E / 48.29389°N 141.39444°E / 48.29389; 141.39444 (Tatarsky2 )
Tefé River
Amazonas
Brazil
15
65 ± 20
4°57′S 66°03′W / 4.950°S 66.050°W / -4.950; -66.050 (Tefé )
Talundilly
Queensland
Australia
84
128 ± 5
24°44′S 144°37′E / 24.73°S 144.62°E / -24.73; 144.62 (Talundilly )
Temimichat
Mauritania
Mauritania
0.7
2?
24°15′N 9°39′W / 24.250°N 9.650°W / 24.250; -9.650 (Temimichat )
Tsenkher
Mongolia
Mongolia
3.6
5
43°38′41″N 98°22′09″E / 43.64472°N 98.36917°E / 43.64472; 98.36917 (Tsenkher )
Toms Canyon
New Jersey
United States
22
35
39°08′N 72°51′W / 39.133°N 72.850°W / 39.133; -72.850 (Toms Canyon )
Kara
Nenetsia , offshore
Russia
65
70.3 ± 2.2
Yes
69°17′N 65°21′E / 69.28°N 65.35°E / 69.28; 65.35 (Ust-Kara )
Vélingara
Senegal
Senegal
48
23-40
13°02′N 14°08′W / 13.033°N 14.133°W / 13.033; -14.133 (Vélingara )
Versailles
Kentucky
United States
1.5
<400
38°05′N 84°40′W / 38.09°N 84.67°W / 38.09; -84.67 (Versailles )
Vredefort
Free State
South Africa
180-300
2023
Yes
27°0′S 27°30′E
Vichada
Vichada
Colombia
50
30?
4°30′N 69°15′W / 4.500°N 69.250°W / 4.500; -69.250 (Vichada )
Victoria Island
California
United States
5.5
37-49
37°53′N 121°32′W / 37.89°N 121.53°W / 37.89; -121.53 (Victoria Island structure )
Warburton East
South Australia
Australia
200
300-360
28°00′S 140°30′E / 28°S 140.5°E / -28; 140.5 (Warbuton )
Warburton West
South Australia
Australia
200
300-360
Weaubleau (Weaubleau-Osceola)
Missouri
United States
19
330 ± 10
38°00′N 93°36′W / 38.0°N 93.6°W / 38.0; -93.6 (Weaubleau )
Wembo-Nyama (Omeonga)
DR Congo
DR Congo
36-46
60?
3°37′52″S 24°31′07″E / 3.63111°S 24.51861°E / -3.63111; 24.51861 (Wembo-Nyama ring structure )
Wilkes Land 2
Antarctica
480
250-500
70°S 140°E / 70°S 140°E / -70; 140 (Wilkes )
Wolfe Creek
Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia
Australia
0.87
< 0.3
Yes
Woodbury
Georgia
United States
7
500 ± 100
32°55′N 84°33′W / 32.92°N 84.55°W / 32.92; -84.55 (Woodbury )
Yallalie
Western Australia
Australia
12
99?
30°26′40″S 115°46′16″E / 30.44444°S 115.77111°E / -30.44444; 115.77111 (Yallalie )
Zerelia West
Greece
Greece
20
0.0070 (5000 BC)
39°09′48″N 22°42′32″E / 39.16333°N 22.70889°E / 39.16333; 22.70889 (Zerelia West )
Zerelia East
Greece
Greece
10
0.0070 (5000 BC)
39°09′43″N 22°42′51″E / 39.16194°N 22.71417°E / 39.16194; 22.71417 (Zerelia East )
Overview
Russia's Lake Cheko is thought by one research group to be the result of the famous Tunguska event , although sediments in the lake have been dated back more than 5,000 years. There is highly speculative conjecture about the supposed Sirente impact (c. 320 ± 90 AD) having caused the Roman emperor Constantine 's vision at Milvian Bridge .
The Burckle crater and Umm al Binni structure are proposed to be behind the floods that affected Sumerian civilization. The Kachchh impact may have been witnessed by the Harappan civilization and mentioned as a fireball in Sanskrit texts.
Shortly after the Hiawatha Crater was discovered, researchers suggested that the impact could have occurred as late as ~12,800 years ago, leading some to associate it with the controversial Younger Dryas impact hypothesis (YDIH). James Kennett, a leading advocate of the YDIH said, "I'd unequivocally predict that this crater is the same age as the Younger Dryas."
These claims were criticised by other scholars. According to impact physicist Mark Boslough writing for Skeptical Inquirer the first reports of the impact released by science journalist Paul Voosen focused on this being a young crater which according to Boslough "set the tone for virtually all the media reporting to follow". Boslough argued, based on evidence and statistical probability, that once the crater has been drilled and researched "it will turn out to be much older." He complained that this important discovery "was tainted by connections to a widely discredited hypothesis and speculations that did not make it through peer review". The YDIH has since been refuted comprehensively by a team of earth scientists and impact experts.
A 2022 study using Argon–Argon dating of shocked zircon crystals in impact melt rocks found outwash less than 10 km downstream of the glacier pushed the estimate back to around 57.99 ± 0.54 million years ago, during the late Paleocene . Confirmation would require drilling almost one km (3,300 ft) through the ice sheet above the crater to obtain a sample of dateable, solidified impact melt from the crater.
The age of the Bloody Creek crater is uncertain.
As the trend in the Earth Impact Database for about 26 confirmed craters younger than a million years old shows that almost all are less than two km (1.2 mi) in diameter (except the three km (1.9 mi) Agoudal and four km (2.5 mi) Rio Cuarto ), the suggestion that two large craters, Mahuika (20 km (12 mi)) and Burckle (30 km (19 mi)), formed only within the last few millennia has been met with skepticism. However, the source of the young (less than a million years old) and enormous Australasian strewnfield (c. 790 ka ) is suggested to be a crater about 100 km (62 mi) across somewhere in Indochina, with Hartung and Koeberl (1994) proposing the elongated 100 km × 35 km (62 mi × 22 mi) Tonlé Sap lake in Cambodia (visible in the map at the side) as a suspect structure.
The Decorah crater has been conjectured as being part of the Ordovician meteor event .
Several twin impacts have been proposed, such as the Rubielos de la Cérida and Azuara (30–40 Ma), Cerro Jarau and Piratininga (c. 117 Ma), and Warburton East and West (300–360 Ma). However, adjacent craters may not necessarily have formed at the same time, as demonstrated by the case of the confirmed Clearwater East and West lakes.
Some confirmed impacts like Sudbury or Chicxulub are also sources of magnetic anomalies and/or gravity anomalies . The magnetic anomalies Bangui and Jackpine Creek, the gravity anomalies Wilkes Land crater and Falkland Islands, and others have been considered as being of impact origin. Bangui apparently has been discredited, but appears again in a 2014 table of unconfirmed structures in Africa by Reimold and Koeberl.
Several anomalies in Williston Basin were identified by Swatzky in the 1970s as astroblemes including Viewfield , Red Wing Creek , Eagle Butte , Dumas , and Hartney , of which only the last two are unconfirmed.
The Eltanin impact has been confirmed (via an iridium anomaly and meteoritic material from ocean cores) but, as it fell into the Pacific Ocean , apparently no crater was formed. The age of Silverpit and the confirmed Boltysh crater (65.17 ± 0.64 Ma), as well as their latitude , has led to the speculative hypothesis that there may have been several impacts during the KT boundary. Of the five oceans in descending order by area, namely the Pacific , Atlantic , Indian , Antarctic , and Arctic , only the smallest (the Arctic) does not yet have a proposed unconfirmed impact crater.
Craters larger than 100 kilometres (62 mi) in the Phanerozoic (after 541 Ma) are notable for their size as well as for the possible coeval events associated with them especially the major extinction events .
For example, the Ishim impact structure is conjectured to be bounded by the late Ordovician -early Silurian (c. 445 ± 5 Ma), the two Warburton basins have been linked to the Late Devonian extinction (c. 360 Ma), both Bedout and the Wilkes Land crater have been associated with the severe Permian–Triassic extinction event (c. 252 Ma), Manicouagan (c. 215 Ma) was once thought to be connected to the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event (c. 201 Ma) but more recent dating has made it unlikely, while the consensus is the Chicxulub impact caused the one for Cretaceous–Paleogene (c. 66 Ma).
However, other extinction theories employ coeval periods of massive volcanism such as the Siberian Traps (Permian-Triassic) and Deccan Traps (Cretaceous-Paleogene).
Undiscovered but inferred
Australasian strewnfield . Shaded areas represent tektite finds.
There is geological evidence for impact events having taken place on Earth on certain specific occasions, which should have formed craters, but for which no impact craters have been found. In some cases this is because of erosion and Earth's crust having been recycled through plate tectonics, in others likely because exploration of the Earth's surface is incomplete, or because no actual crater was formed because the impacting object exploded as a cosmic air burst. Typically the ages are already known and the diameters can be estimated.
Mistaken identity
Some geological processes can result in circular or near-circular features that may be mistaken for impact craters. Some examples are calderas , maars , sinkholes , glacial cirques , igneous intrusions , ring dikes , salt domes , geologic domes , ventifacts , tuff rings , forest rings , and others. Conversely, an impact crater may originally be thought as one of these geological features, like Meteor Crater (as a maar ) or Upheaval Dome (as a salt dome).
The presence of shock metamorphism and shatter cones are important criteria in favor of an impact interpretation, though massive landslides (such as the Köfels landslide of 7800 BC which was once thought to be impact-related) may produce shock-like fused rocks called "frictionite".
See also
Notes and references