The effect crater, which was triggered by an effect even around 8 million years back, has to do with 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) in size.
The crater was discovered in the province of Almeria.
The very first possible effect crater in Spain has actually been found in the southern province ofAlmeria The finding was just recently reported by Juan Antonio Sánchez Garrido of the University of Almeria at the Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2022.
Although there are over 200 effect structures understood to exist, this research study is the very first to discover proof of an effect crater on the IberianPeninsula The finding is the item of 15 years of research study performed by a worldwide group of researchers from the University of Almeria, the Astrobiology Center of Madrid, the University of Lund, and the University of Copenhagen.
Location of the crater center and 20- kilometer radius of the location impacted by the effect in the Alhabia-Tabernas basin. Credit: Sánchez-Garrido et al2022 Basemap: Instituto Geogr áfico Nacional (IGN)
Prof Sánchez Garrido stated: “We believe that the impact event occurred around 8 million years ago. We have investigated numerous aspects of the geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and geomorphology of the region. The basins of Alhabia and Tabernas in the area are filled with sediments dating back between 5 and 23 million years, and they overlie older metamorphic rocks. Much of the impact structure is buried by more modern sediments, but erosion has exposed it and opened up the opportunity for studies.”
The crater itself is approximated to be 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) in size, surrounded by a larger structure 20 kilometers (124 miles) throughout, where the effect triggered the sedimentary strata to collapse.
Much of the effect structure is buried by the latest sediments. The crater itself is 4 kilometers in size and is buried at a depth of 1000 m. The edge of the structure reaches a size of 20 kilometers. Credit: Sánchez-Garrido et al 2022
Evidence for the effect crater consists of a number of examples of ‘shocked’ quartz grains in breccia– a sedimentary rock type with big pieces sealed into a finer-grained matrix. The grains reveal indications of being warped in the huge pressures of the effect, which were in between 10 and 30 gigapascals.
“If the crater discovery is confirmed, it would not only be exciting from a scientific perspective but would also be a wonderful addition to the scientific and touristic attractions of the province of Almeria,” stated Prof Sánchez Garrido.
Evidence for the effect crater consists of a number of examples of ‘shocked’ quartz grains in breccia– a sedimentary rock type with big pieces sealed into a finer-grained matrix. The grains reveal indications of being warped in the huge pressures of the effect, which were in between 10 and 30 gigapascals. Credit: Sánchez-Garrido et al 2022
EPSC2022, which happened recently in Granada, was gone to by practically 1200 planetary researchers from worldwide, making it among the biggest planetary science conferences to occur in Europe.
Thin areas revealing contortions in 3 quartz grains, produced by shock impacts, in an effect breccia atTabernas Credit: Sánchez-Garrido et al 2022
The Chair of the Local Organising Committee, Luisa Lara of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andaluc ía-CSIC, stated: “It was a lot of work to prepare for the meeting and we had to wait two years because of the pandemic. But the emotion of welcoming everyone to EPSC2022 in Granada has been worth everything – all the work is forgotten and the success of the meeting is a wonderful reward.”
Reference: “A probable impact structure in Betic Cordillera, Almeria, SE Spain” by Juan Antonio Sánchez Garrido, Jens Olof Orm ö, Carl Alwmark, Sanna Alwmark, Gabriel Zachen, Robert Lilljequist and Sebasti án Tom ás Sánchez Gómez, 23 September 2022, Europlanet Science Congress 2022.
DOI: 10.5194/ epsc2022-217
