Saint Martin impact structure
(Redirected from
Saint Martin crater
)Saint Martin impact structure | |
---|---|
Impact crater/structure | |
Confidence | Confirmed |
Diameter | 40 km (25 mi) |
Age | 227.8 ± 1.1 Ma Carnian |
Exposed | No |
Drilled | Yes |
Location | |
Coordinates | 51°47′N 98°32′W / 51.783°N 98.533°W |
Country | Canada |
Province | Manitoba |
Municipality | Grahamdale |
Saint Martin is an impact structure in Manitoba, Canada.[1] It is located in the northern part of the Rural Municipality of Grahamdale, northwest of Lake St. Martin.
The impact structure is 40 km (25 mi) in diameter and its age was determined to be 227.8 ± 1.1 million yearsargon-argon dating technique. The crater is well preserved but poorly exposed at the surface as the whole region is covered by glacial drift.
Hypothetical multiple impact event
It had previously been suggested by
Manicouagan impact structure in northern Quebec, Rochechouart impact structure in France, Obolon' crater in Ukraine, and Red Wing crater in North Dakota.[3] All of the impact structures had previously been known and studied, but their paleoalignment had never before been demonstrated. Rowley has said that the chance that these structures could be aligned like this due to chance are nearly zero.[4]
References
- ^ "Saint Martin". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
- ^ Schmieder M., Jourdan F., Tohver, E. and Cloutis, E. A. 2014. 40Ar/39Ar age of the Lake Saint Martin impact structure (Canada) - Unchaining the Late Triassic terrestrial impact craters. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. (in press)
- ^ 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.