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List of impact structures on Earth

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World map in equirectangular projection of the impact structures on the Earth Impact Database as of November 2017 (in the SVG file, hover over a structure to show its details)
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This list of impact structures (including impact craters) on Earth contains the majority of the 194+ confirmed impact structure given in the Earth Impact Database as of 2024.[1]

Alphabetical lists for different continents can be found under Impact structures by continent below.

Confirmed impact structures listed by size and age

[edit]

These features were caused by the collision of meteors (consisting of large fragments of asteroids) or comets (consisting of ice, dust particles and rocky fragments) with the Earth. For eroded or buried craters, the stated diameter typically refers to the best available estimate of the original rim diameter, and may not correspond to present surface features. Time units are either in ka (thousands) or Ma (millions) of years.

10 ka or less

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Less than ten thousand years old, and with a diameter of 100 m (330 ft) or more. The EID lists fewer than ten such craters, and the largest in the last 100,000 years (100 ka) is the 4.5 km (2.8 mi) Rio Cuarto crater in Argentina.[2] However, there is some uncertainty regarding its origins[3] and age, with some sources giving it as < 10 ka[2][4] while the EID gives a broader < 100 ka.[3]

The Kaali impacts (c. 1500 BC) during the Nordic Bronze Age may have influenced Estonian and Finnish mythology,[5] the Campo del Cielo (c. 2500 BC) could be in the legends of some Native Argentine tribes,[6][7] while Henbury (c. 2700 BC) has figured in Australian Aboriginal oral traditions.[8]

Macha crater field map
One of the Kaali craters
Name Location Country Diameter
(km) 		Age
(ka) 		Date Coordinates
Wabar Rub' al Khali desert Saudi Arabia 000.1 < 00.2 ~1800 AD 21°30′N 50°28′E / 21.500°N 50.467°E / 21.500; 50.467
Dalgaranga Western Australia Australia 0.024 less than 0.03?
Whitecourt Alberta Canada 000.04 < 01.1
900 AD
 54°00′N 115°36′W / 54.000°N 115.600°W / 54.000; -115.600
Kaali Saaremaa Estonia 000.1 < 03.5 01500 BC 58°24′N 22°40′E / 58.400°N 22.667°E / 58.400; 22.667
Campo del Cielo Chaco Argentina 000.1[7] < 04.5 02500 BC 27°38′S 61°42′W / 27.633°S 61.700°W / -27.633; -61.700
Henbury Northern Territory Australia 000.2 < 04.7 02700 BC 24°34′S 133°8′E / 24.567°S 133.133°E / -24.567; 133.133
Morasko Poznań Poland 000.1 < 05.0[9] 03000 BC 52°29′N 16°54′E / 52.483°N 16.900°E / 52.483; 16.900
Boxhole Northern Territory Australia 000.2 < 05.4 03400 BC 22°37′S 135°12′E / 22.617°S 135.200°E / -22.617; 135.200
Ilumetsa Põlva County Estonia 000.08 < 06.6 <4600 BC 57°57′N 27°24′E / 57.950°N 27.400°E / 57.950; 27.400
Macha Sakha Republic Russia 000.3 < 07.3 05300 BC 60°6′N 117°35′E / 60.100°N 117.583°E / 60.100; 117.583
Luna Gujarat India 1.5-1.8 less than 6.9 < 5000 BC
Rio Cuarto (disputed) Córdoba Province Argentina 004.5 < 10 ?[2][4] <8000 BC 32°53′S 64°13′W / 32.883°S 64.217°W / -32.883; -64.217

For the Rio Cuarto craters, 2002 research suggests they may actually be aeolian structures.[10] The EID gives a size of about 50 m (160 ft) for Campo del Cielo, but other sources quote 100 m (330 ft).[7]

10 ka to 1 Ma

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From between 10 thousand years and one million years ago, and with a diameter of less than one km (0.62 mi):

Name Location Country Diameter
(km) 		Age
(ka) 		Coordinates
Wolfe Creek Western Australia Australia 0.9 < 120 19°10′18″S 127°47′44″E / 19.17167°S 127.79556°E / -19.17167; 127.79556
Hickman 0.26 10-100
Kalkkop Eastern Cape South Africa 0.64 ~250
Jeokjung-Chogye Basin Gyeongsangnam South Korea 8 30-63
Monturaqui Atacama Desert Chile 0.455 640 ± 140 23°55′40″S 68°15′41″W / 23.92778°S 68.26139°W / -23.92778; -68.26139
Pantasma Jinotega Nicaragua 14 804

From between ten thousand years and one million years ago, and with a diameter of one km (0.62 mi) or more. The largest in the last one million years is the 14-kilometre (8.7 mi) Zhamanshin crater in Kazakhstan and has been described as being capable of producing a nuclear-like winter.[11]

The source of the enormous Australasian strewnfield (c. 780 ka) is a currently undiscovered crater probably located in Southeast Asia.[12][13]

Meteor Crater, 1.2 km (0.75 mi)
Tenoumer crater, 1.9 km (1.2 mi)
Name Location Country Diameter
(km) 		Age
(ka) 		Coordinates
Yilan Heilongjiang China 01.85 049 46°23′4″N 129°19′39″E / 46.38444°N 129.32750°E / 46.38444; 129.32750
Meteor Crater Arizona United States 01.2 049 35°1′39″N 111°1′22″W / 35.02750°N 111.02278°W / 35.02750; -111.02278
Xiuyan Xiuyan China 01.8 050 40°21′42″N 123°27′47″E / 40.36167°N 123.46306°E / 40.36167; 123.46306
Lonar Maharashtra India 01.8 052 19°58′37″N 76°30′32″E / 19.97694°N 76.50889°E / 19.97694; 76.50889
Agoudal[14] Atlas Mountains Morocco 03.0 105 31°59′N 5°30′W / 31.983°N 5.500°W / 31.983; -5.500
Tswaing Pretoria Saltpan South Africa 01.1 220 25°24′32″S 28°4′58″E / 25.40889°S 28.08278°E / -25.40889; 28.08278
Zhamanshin Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 14.0 900 ± 100 48°24′0″N 60°58′0″E / 48.40000°N 60.96667°E / 48.40000; 60.96667

1 Ma to 10 Ma

[edit]
Elgygytgyn, 18 km (11 mi)
Bosumtwi, 10 km (6.2 mi)

From between 1 and 10 million years ago. The large but apparently craterless Eltanin impact (2.5 Ma) into the Pacific Ocean has been suggested as contributing to the glaciations and cooling during the Pliocene.[15]

Name Location Country Diameter
(km) 		Age
(Million years) 		Coordinates
Tenoumer Sahara Desert Mauritania 01.9 1.57 ± 0.1 22°55′2″N 10°24′28″W / 22.91722°N 10.40778°W / 22.91722; -10.40778
Bosumtwi Ashanti Ghana 0010 ;01.1 6°30′N 1°25′W / 6.500°N 1.417°W / 6.500; -1.417
New Quebec/Pingualuit Quebec Canada 1.4± 0.1
El'gygytgyn Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Russia 0018 ;03.5 67°30′N 172°00′E / 67.500°N 172.000°E / 67.500; 172.000
Bigach Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 0008 ;05 48°34′N 82°1′E / 48.567°N 82.017°E / 48.567; 82.017
Karla Tatarstan Russia 0010 ;05 54°55′N 48°2′E / 54.917°N 48.033°E / 54.917; 48.033
Alhama de Almería Almería Spain 22 ~8 36°58′N 2°32′W / 36.967°N 2.533°W / 36.967; -2.533 (Kara-Kul)
Roter Kamm Karas Namibia 3.8 ± 0.3
Talemzane Djelfa Algeria less than 3
Tsenkher Gobi-Altai Mongolia 4.9 ± 0.9

10 Ma or more

[edit]

Most recorded impact craters are over 10 million years old, or have widely uncertain ages. The Chicxulub impact has been widely been considered the most likely cause for the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction, with some scholars linking other impacts like the Popigai impact in Russia and the Chesapeake Bay impact to later extinction events, though the causal relationship has been questioned.[16]

Sudbury Basin, 130 km (81 mi)
Chicxulub crater, 150 km (93 mi)
Popigai impact structure, 100 km (62 mi)
Manicouagan impact structure, 100 km (62 mi)
Acraman crater, 85 to 90 km (53 to 56 mi)
Charlevoix impact structure, 54 km (34 mi)
Nördlinger Ries, 24 km (15 mi)
Name Location Country Diameter (km) Age (million years) Coordinates
Vredefort Free State South Africa 160 2023 ± 4 27°0′S 27°30′E / 27.000°S 27.500°E / -27.000; 27.500 (Vredefort)
Chicxulub Yucatán Mexico 150 66.051 ± 0.031 21°20′N 89°30′W / 21.333°N 89.500°W / 21.333; -89.500 (Chicxulub)
Sudbury Ontario Canada 130 1849 46°36′N 81°11′W / 46.600°N 81.183°W / 46.600; -81.183 (Sudbury)
Popigai Siberia Russia 100 35.7±0.2 71°39′N 111°11′E / 71.650°N 111.183°E / 71.650; 111.183 (Popigai)
Manicouagan Quebec Canada 100 215.56 ± 0.05 51°23′N 68°42′W / 51.383°N 68.700°W / 51.383; -68.700 (Manicouagan)
Acraman South Australia Australia 90 580 32°1′S 135°27′E / 32.017°S 135.450°E / -32.017; 135.450 (Acraman)
Morokweng Kalahari Desert South Africa 70 146.06 ± 0.16 26°28′S 23°32′E / 26.467°S 23.533°E / -26.467; 23.533 (Morokweng)
Kara Nenetsia Russia 65 75.34 ± 0.66 69°6′N 64°9′E / 69.100°N 64.150°E / 69.100; 64.150 (Kara)
Beaverhead Idaho and Montana United States 60 600 44°15′N 114°0′W / 44.250°N 114.000°W / 44.250; -114.000 (Beaverhead)
Tookoonooka Queensland Australia 66 121.8 - 123.8 27°7′S 142°50′E / 27.117°S 142.833°E / -27.117; 142.833 (Tookoonooka)
Charlevoix Quebec Canada 54 342 47°32′N 70°18′W / 47.533°N 70.300°W / 47.533; -70.300 (Charlevoix)
Siljan Ring Kopparberg Sweden 65-75 380.9 ± 4.6 61°2′N 14°52′E / 61.033°N 14.867°E / 61.033; 14.867 (Siljan)
Karakul Pamir Mountains Tajikistan 52 less than 60 39°1′N 73°27′E / 39.017°N 73.450°E / 39.017; 73.450 (Kara-Kul)
Montagnais Nova Scotia Canada 45 50.5 42°53′N 64°13′W / 42.883°N 64.217°W / 42.883; -64.217 (Montagnais)
Araguainha Central Brazil Brazil 40 244.4 16°47′S 52°59′W / 16.783°S 52.983°W / -16.783; -52.983 (Araguainha)
Chesapeake Bay Virginia United States 40 34.86 ± 0.23 37°17′N 76°1′W / 37.283°N 76.017°W / 37.283; -76.017 (Chesapeake Bay)
Mjølnir Barents Sea Norway 40 142 73°48′N 29°40′E / 73.800°N 29.667°E / 73.800; 29.667 (Mjølnir)
Puchezh-Katunki Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Russia 40 195.9 ± 1.0 56°58′N 43°43′E / 56.967°N 43.717°E / 56.967; 43.717 (Puchezh-Katunki)
Saint Martin Manitoba Canada 40 227.8 ± 1.1 51°47′N 98°32′W / 51.783°N 98.533°W / 51.783; -98.533 (Saint Martin)
Woodleigh Western Australia Australia 40 364 26°3′S 114°40′E / 26.050°S 114.667°E / -26.050; 114.667 (Woodleigh)
Carswell Saskatchewan Canada 39 115 58°27′N 109°30′W / 58.450°N 109.500°W / 58.450; -109.500 (Carswell)
Clearwater West Quebec Canada 36 290 56°13′N 74°30′W / 56.217°N 74.500°W / 56.217; -74.500 (Clearwater West)
Manson Iowa United States 35 74 42°35′N 94°33′W / 42.583°N 94.550°W / 42.583; -94.550 (Manson)
Hiawatha Greenland Denmark 31 57.99 ± 0.54 78°50′N 67°18′W / 78.833°N 67.300°W / 78.833; -67.300
Slate Islands Ontario Canada 30 450 48°40′N 87°0′W / 48.667°N 87.000°W / 48.667; -87.000 (Slate Islands)
Yarrabubba Western Australia Australia 30 2229 27°10′S 118°50′E / 27.167°S 118.833°E / -27.167; 118.833 (Yarrabubba)
Keurusselkä Western Finland Finland 30 1500–1400 62°8′N 24°36′E / 62.133°N 24.600°E / 62.133; 24.600 (Keurusselkä)
Shoemaker Western Australia Australia 30 1630? 25°52′S 120°53′E / 25.867°S 120.883°E / -25.867; 120.883 (Shoemaker)
Mistastin Newfoundland and Labrador Canada 28 36.4 55°53′N 63°18′W / 55.883°N 63.300°W / 55.883; -63.300 (Mistastin)
Clearwater East Quebec Canada 26 465 56°4′N 74°6′W / 56.067°N 74.100°W / 56.067; -74.100 (Clearwater East)
Kamensk Southern Federal District Russia 25 49 48°21′N 40°30′E / 48.350°N 40.500°E / 48.350; 40.500 (Kamensk)
Steen River Alberta Canada 25 91 59°30′N 117°38′W / 59.500°N 117.633°W / 59.500; -117.633 (Steen River)
Strangways Northern Territory Australia 25 646 15°12′S 133°35′E / 15.200°S 133.583°E / -15.200; 133.583 (Strangways)
Tunnunik Northwest Territories Canada 25 450–430 72°28′N 113°58′W / 72.467°N 113.967°W / 72.467; -113.967 (Tunuunik)
Boltysh Kirovohrad Oblast Ukraine 24 65.17 48°54′N 32°15′E / 48.900°N 32.250°E / 48.900; 32.250 (Boltysh)
Nördlinger Ries Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg Germany 24 14.808 ± 0.038 48°53′N 10°34′E / 48.883°N 10.567°E / 48.883; 10.567 (Nördlinger Ries)
Presqu'île Quebec Canada 24 less than 500 49°43′N 74°48′W / 49.717°N 74.800°W / 49.717; -74.800 (Presqu'ile)
Haughton Nunavut Canada 23 39 75°23′N 89°40′W / 75.383°N 89.667°W / 75.383; -89.667 (Haughton)
Lappajärvi Western Finland Finland 23 77.85 ± 0.78 63°12′N 23°42′E / 63.200°N 23.700°E / 63.200; 23.700 (Lappajärvi)
Rochechouart France France 23 206.92 ± 0.32[17] 45°49′N 0°47′E / 45.817°N 0.783°E / 45.817; 0.783 (Rochechouart)
Cerro do Jarau Rio Grande do Sul Brazil 13.5 less than 135 30°11′S 56°31′W / 30.183°S 56.517°W / -30.183; -56.517 (Rochechouart)
Cleanskin Northern Territory Australia 15 520 - 1400 18°10′S 137°56′E / 18.167°S 137.933°E / -18.167; 137.933 (Rochechouart)
B.P. Structure Cyrenaica Libya 3.2 less than 120 25°19′N 24°18′E / 25.317°N 24.300°E / 25.317; 24.300 (Rochechouart)
Ames Oklahoma United States 16 458 - 478 36°14′N 98°11′W / 36.233°N 98.183°W / 36.233; -98.183 (Rochechouart)
Brent Ontario Canada 3.4 453.2 ± 6.0[18] 46°4′N 78°28′W / 46.067°N 78.467°W / 46.067; -78.467 (Rochechouart)
Calvin Michigan United States 8.5 444 - 458 41°49′N 85°56′W / 41.817°N 85.933°W / 41.817; -85.933 (Rochechouart)
Chiyli Aktobe Kazakhstan 5.5 41 - 56 49°10′N 57°50′E / 49.167°N 57.833°E / 49.167; 57.833 (Rochechouart)
Chukcha Taymyr Russia 6 less than 70 75°38′N 98°35′E / 75.633°N 98.583°E / 75.633; 98.583 (Rochechouart)
Cloud Creek Wyoming United States 7 166 - 227 43°4′N 106°45′W / 43.067°N 106.750°W / 43.067; -106.750 (Rochechouart)
Colonia São Paulo Brazil 3.6 2.5-36 23°52′S 46°42′W / 23.867°S 46.700°W / -23.867; -46.700 (Rochechouart)
Connolly Basin Western Australia Australia 9 23-36 23°32′S 124°45′E / 23.533°S 124.750°E / -23.533; 124.750 (Rochechouart)
Couture Quebec Canada 8 429 ± 25 60°7′N 75°18′W / 60.117°N 75.300°W / 60.117; -75.300 (Rochechouart)
Crooked Creek Missouri United States 7 323 - 485
Decaturville 6 less than 323
Decorah Iowa United States 5.6 464-467
Deep Bay Saskatchewan Canada 13 95-102
Dellen Gavleborgs Sweden 19 140.82 ± 0.51
Des Plaines Illinois United States 8 less than 299
Dhala Madhya Pradesh India 11 1700 - 2500
Dobele Dobele Latvia 4.5 252 - 359
Douglas Wyoming United States 16 ~280
Eagle Butte Alberta Canada 8 less than 65
Elbow Saskatchewan Canada 3.8 201 - 393
Flaxman South Australia Australia 10 34 - 541
Flynn Creek Tennesee United States 3.8 ~382
Foelsche Northern Territory Australia 6 520 - 1496
Gardnos Buskerud Norway 5 546 ± 5
Glasford Illinois United States 4 453 - 457
Glikson Western Australia Australia 19 less than 513
Glover Bluff Wisconsin United States 8 less than 485
Goat Paddock Western Australia Australia 5 48-56
Gosses Bluff Northern Territory Australia 32 165-383 23°49′S 132°18′E / 23.817°S 132.300°E / -23.817; 132.300 (Gosses Bluff)
Gow Saskatchewan Canada 4 196.8 ± 9.9
Goyder Northern Territory Australia 7 150-1325
Granby Ostergotland Sweden 3 478-468
Gweni-Fada Ennedi Chad 22 less than 383
Holleford Ontario Canada 2.35 450-650
Hummeln Småland Sweden 1.2 ~465
Ile Rouleau Quebec Canada 4 0.01-1800
Ilkurlka Western Australia Australia 12 "Middle Cambrian"
Ilyinets Vinnytsia Ukraine 4.5 445 ± 10
Iso-Naakkima Mikkeli Finland 3 900 - 1200
Jake Seller Draw Wyoming United States 4.3 280
Janisjarvi Karelia Russia 14 687 ± 5
Jabel Waqf as Suwwan Ma'an Jordan 5.5 2.6 - 30
Kaluga Kaluga Russia 15 383 - 394
Kamenetsk Mykolaiv Ukraine 1.2 11.63 - 2100
Kardla Hiiu Estonia 4 ~455
Karikkoselkä Central Finland Finland 2.1-2.4 230-260
Kelly West Northern Territory Australia 6.6 500 - 1640
Kentland Indiana United States 7 1 - 300
Kgagodi Central District Botswana 3.4 less than 180
Kursk Kursk Russia 5.5 163-359
La Moinerie Quebec Canada 8 453 ± 5
Lake Raeside Western Australia Australia 11 34 - 250
Lawn Hill Queensland Australia 16.8 476 ± 8
Liverpool Northern Territory Australia 1.6 541 - 1870
Lockne Jämtland Sweden 13.5 ~455
Logancha Siberia Russia 20 40 65°31′N 95°56′E / 65.517°N 95.933°E / 65.517; 95.933 (Logancha)
Logoisk Minsk Belarus 17 30 ± 0.5
Luizi Katanga Dem. Rep. of the Congo 15 less than 573
Lumparn Southwest Finland Finland 10 less than 458
Malingen Jämtlan Sweden 0.7 ~455
Maple Creek Saskatchewan Canada 5.75 less than 72
Marquez Texas United States 12.7 58.3 ± 3.1
Matt Wilson Northern Territory Australia 7.5 less than 1344
Middlesboro Kentucky United States 5.5 less than 299
Mien Kronoberg Sweden 7 120 ± 1
Mishina Gora Pskov Russia 2.5 less than 360
Mizarai Alytus Lithuania 5 480 - 520
Mount Toondina South Australia Australia 4 less than 125
Neugrund Harju Estonia 20 530-540
Newporte North Dakota United States 3.2 480 - 500
Nicholson Northwest Territories Canada 12.5 387 ± 5
Nova Colinas Maranhao Brazil 7 Unknown
Oasis Kufra Libya 15.6 less than 120
Obolon' Poltava Oblast Ukraine 20 169 49°35′N 32°55′E / 49.583°N 32.917°E / 49.583; 32.917 (Obolon')
Ora Banda Western Australia Australia 5 100
Ouarkziz Tindouf Algeria 3 65 - 345
Paasselkä Mikkeli Finland 10 231.0 ± 2.2
Pilot Northwest Territories Canada ~6 450 ± 2
Presqu'île Quebec Canada 15 less than 2729
Ragozinka Sverdlovsk Russia 9 56 - 59
Ramgarh Rajasthan India 10 165 - 750
Red Wing North Dakota United States 9 167 - 250
Riachão Maranhao Brazil 4 less than 299
Ritland Rogaland Norway 2.7 500 - 541
Rock Elm Wisconsin United States 6.5 458 - 485
Rotmistrovka Cherkasy Ukraine 2.7 94-145
Saaksjarvi Western Finland Finland 5 602 ± 17
Saarijarvi Oulu Finland 2 less than 600
Santa Fe New Mexico United States 13 350-1472
Santa Marta Piaui Brazil 10 less than 100
Saqqar Jawf Saudi Arabia 34 70 - 410
Serpent Mound Ohio United States 8 less than 359
Serra da Cangalha Tocantins Brazil 13.7 less than 250
Shunak Karaganda Kazakhstan 2.8 7-17
Sierra Madera Texas United States 20 less than 113
Soderfjarden Ostrobothnia Finland 6.5 640 - 1880
Spider Western Australia Australia 13 580 - 900
Steinheim Baden-Württemberg Germany 3.8 ~14.8
Suavjarvi Karelia Russia 16 2200-2700
Summanen Western Finland Finland 2.6 less than 1880
Suvasvesi North Northern Savonia Finland 3.5 ~85
Suvasvesi South 3.8 710 - 1880
Tabun-Khara-Obo Dornogovi Mongolia 1.3 130-170
Talundilly Queensland Australia 84 ~125
Ternovka Dnipropetrovsk Ukraine 15 280 ± 10
Tin Bider Tamanrasset Algeria 6 less than 66
Tvaren Södermanland Sweden 3.1 456 - 458
Upheaval Dome Utah United States 5.2 less than 183
Vargeao Dome Santa Catarina Brazil 12.4 123 ± 1.4
Vepriai Vilnius Lithuania 7.5 155 - 165
Viewfield Saskatchewan Canada 2.4 170 - 210
Vista Alegre Paraná Brazil 9.5 111 - 134
Wanapitei Ontario Canada 7.5 37.7 ± 1.2
Wells Creek Tennesee United States 13.7 100 - 323
West Hawk Manitoba Canada 3.6 351 ± 20
Wetumpka Alabama United States 6.25 ~83.5
Yallalie Western Australia Australia 12 83.6 - 89.8
Zapadnaya Zhytomyr Ukraine 3.2 165 ± 5
Zeleny Gai Kirovograd Ukraine 3.5 60 - 100
Amelia Creek Northern Territory Australia 20 1660–600 20°55′S 134°50′E / 20.917°S 134.833°E / -20.917; 134.833 (Amelia Creek)

Inferred impact events

[edit]

Some impact events are only known from events like layers of spherules or tektites generated by the impact recorded in contemporary rocks, and their impact structures may no longer exist.

Name Location Country Diameter (km) Age (million years) Coordinates
S1-Warrawoona Unknown Unknown (recorded in South Africa and Australia[19]) Likely in the range of 400-1000[20] ~3472[20] N/A
S2 Unknown (recorded in South Africa) Estimated to be around 500[21] ~3260[22]
S3 Likely in the range of 400-1000[20] ~3243[23]
S4 ~3240[24]
S5 ~3225[24]
S6 ~3256[24]
S7 ~3416[24]
S8 ~3298[24]
Paraburdoo-Reivilo Unknown (recorded in South Africa and Australia[19]) ~2560
Stac Fada Impact Scotland Scotland Likely around 13-14 1177 ± 5 
Vakkejokk Breccia Northern Scandinavia Likely northern Sweden Around 4-5 ~520[25]
Unnamed northern Greenland Denmark Unknown 1039 ± 16[26]
Australasian strewnfield Unknown (likely Southeast Asia) Unknown Unknown, possibly ~15[27] 0.788
Eltanin impact Southern Ocean SW of Chile none 2.5 57°47′S 90°47′W / 57.783°S 90.783°W / -57.783; -90.783

Impact structures by continent

[edit]

As of 2022, the Earth Impact Database (EID) contains 190 confirmed impact structures.[1] The table below is arranged by the continent's percentage of the Earth's land area, and where Asian and Russian structures are grouped together per EID convention. The global distribution of known impact structures apparently shows a surprising asymmetry,[28] with the small but well-funded European continent having a large percentage of confirmed impact structures. It is suggested this situation is an artifact, highlighting the importance of intensifying research in less studied areas like Antarctica, South America and elsewhere.[28]

Links in the column "Continent" will give a list of craters for that continent.

Continent Continent's %
of Earth's
land area		 Continent's %
of the 190
known impact structures		 Number
of impact structures
Asia and Russia 30% 16% 31
Africa 20% 11% 20
North America 16% 32% 60
South America 12% 6% 11
Antarctica 9% 0% 0
Europe 7% 22% 41
Australia 6% 14% 27
Total 100% 100% 190

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Earth Impact Database". University of New Brunswick. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  2. ^ a b c Bland, Phil A.; de Souza Filho, C. R.; Timothy Jull, A. J.; Kelley, Simon P.; Hough, Robert Michael; Artemieva, N. A.; Pierazzo, E.; Coniglio, J.; Pinotti, Lucio; Evers, V.; Kearsley, Anton; (2002); "A possible tektite strewn field in the Argentinian Pampa", Science, volume 296, issue 5570, pp. 1109–12
  3. ^ a b "Rio Cuarto". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  4. ^ a b Schultz, Peter H.; Lianza, Ruben E. (1992) "Recent grazing impacts on the Earth recorded in the Rio Cuarto crater field, Argentina", Nature 355, pp. 234–37 (16 January 1992)
  5. ^ Haas, Ain; Peekna, Andres; Walker, Robert E. "Echoes of Ancient Cataclysms in the Baltic Sea" (PDF). Electronic Journal of Folklore. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  6. ^ Benítez, Giménez; López, Alejandro M.; Mammana, Luis A. "Meteorites of Campo del Cielo: Impact on the indian culture".
  7. ^ a b c Bobrowsky, Peter T.; Rickman, Hans (2007). Comet/asteroid impacts and human society: an interdisciplinary approach. Springer. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-3-540-32709-7.
  8. ^ Hamacher, Duane W.; Goldsmith, John. "Aboriginal oral traditions of Australian impact craters" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
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  18. ^ McGregor, Maree; Dence, Michael R.; McFarlane, Christopher R. M.; Spray, John G. (July 2020). "U–Pb geochronology of apatite and zircon from the Brent impact structure, Canada: a Late Ordovician Sandbian–Katian boundary event associated with L-Chondrite parent body disruption". Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. 175 (7): 63. Bibcode:2020CoMP..175...63M. doi:10.1007/s00410-020-01699-9. ISSN 0010-7999.
  19. ^ a b Koeberl, Christian; Schulz, Toni; Huber, Matthew S. (2024-09-01). "Precambrian impact structures and ejecta on earth: A review". Precambrian Research. 411: 107511. Bibcode:2024PreR..41107511K. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107511.
  20. ^ a b c Lowe, Donald R.; Byerly, Gary R. (April 2018). "The terrestrial record of Late Heavy Bombardment". New Astronomy Reviews. 81: 39–61. Bibcode:2018NewAR..81...39L. doi:10.1016/j.newar.2018.03.002.
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  25. ^ Alwmark, Carl; Ormö, Jens; Nielsen, Arne T. (March 2019). "Shocked quartz grains in the early Cambrian Vakkejokk Breccia, Sweden—Evidence of a marine impact". Meteoritics & Planetary Science. 54 (3): 609–620. Bibcode:2019M&PS...54..609A. doi:10.1111/maps.13230. ISSN 1086-9379.
  26. ^ Hyde, William R.; Kenny, Gavin G.; Jaret, Steven J.; MacGregor, Joseph A.; Beck, Pierre; Whitehouse, Martin J.; Larsen, Nicolaj K. (2024-07-01). "Evidence for ca. 1 Ga hypervelocity impact event found in northwest Greenland". Geology. 52 (7): 517–521. Bibcode:2024Geo....52..517H. doi:10.1130/G51876.1. ISSN 0091-7613.
  27. ^ Sieh, Kerry; Herrin, Jason; Jicha, Brian; Schonwalder Angel, Dayana; Moore, James D. P.; Banerjee, Paramesh; Wiwegwin, Weerachat; Sihavong, Vanpheng; Singer, Brad; Chualaowanich, Tawachai; Charusiri, Punya (2020-01-21). "Australasian impact crater buried under the Bolaven volcanic field, Southern Laos". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 117 (3): 1346–1353. Bibcode:2020PNAS..117.1346S. doi:10.1073/pnas.1904368116. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 6983392. PMID 31889003.
  28. ^ a b Prezzi, Claudia B.; Orgeira, María Julia; Acevedo, Rogelio D.; Ponce, Juan Federico; Martinez, Oscar; Rabassa, Jorge O.; Corbella, Hugo; Vásquez, Carlos; González-Guillot, Mauricio; Subías, Ignacio; (2011); "Geophysical characterization of two circular structures at Bajada del Diablo (Patagonia, Argentina): Indication of impact origin", Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, vol. 192, pp. 21–34

Further reading

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