Saint Martin impact structure
Saint Martin is an impact crater in Manitoba, Canada.[1]
It is 40 km (25 mi) in diameter and its age is estimated at 220 ± 32 million years (Triassic). The crater is not exposed at the surface.
Hypothetical multiple impact event
It has been suggested by Geophysicist David Rowley of the University of Chicago, working with John Spray of the University of New Brunswick and Simon Kelley of the Open University, that the Saint Martin crater may have been part of a hypothetical multiple impact event which also formed the Manicouagan crater in northern Quebec, Rochechouart crater in France, Obolon' crater in Ukraine, and Red Wing crater in North Dakota.[2] All of the craters had previously been known and studied, but their paleoalignment had never before been demonstrated. Rowley has said that the chance that these craters could be aligned like this due to chance are nearly zero.[3]
Notes
- ^ "Saint Martin". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ^ Spray, J.G., Kelley, S.P. and Rowley, D.B. (1998). "Evidence for a late Triassic multiple impact event on Earth". Nature, v. 392, pp. 171-173. Abstract
- ^ Steele, Diana (19 March 1998). "Crater chain points to impact of fragmented comet". University of Chicago Chronicle.
External links
- Earth Impact Database
- http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/story.html?id=91dac574-d77d-4e4e-a670-46605b6c0380&k=26653
- http://www.manitoba.ca/iem/mrd/info/libmin/geos_vol13_no3.pdf
- Aerial exploration of the St. Martin structure.
51°47′N 98°32′W / 51.783°N 98.533°W
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