On earth, deterioration and other geological processes have either destroyed or guarded the topographic border. This happens at the vast majority of impact craters. Thus, scientists have created a new methodology to determine meteorite impact craters. Through this novel method, scientists re-estimated the diameter of eight well-known impact craters on Earth. This novel research has been done by planetary scientists Osinski and his collaborator Ludovic Ferrière from Western University.
Gordon Osinski from Western’s Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) said, “the first most common question arise about an impact crater is: How big is it?”
According to The NSERC/MDA/CSA/CEMI Industrial Research Chair in Earth and Space Exploration, determining the size of impact craters on extraterrestrial bodies is almost straightforward. This is actually gained by measuring the diameter of the highest points of the crater rim.
This novel method depends on measurements and spatial distribution of shatter cones found in impact craters. Shatter cones are rare geological features that form in the ground below meteorite impact craters or in nuclear explosions.
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According to scientists, shatter cones may decrease the strength of an impacted body. In this case, the earth provides contributes to the further collapse of the crater. It also provides important data about the obliquity of the impactor.
Osinski said, “Shatter cone is mostly used and trusted shock-metamorphic effect to recognize meteorite impact structures. Despite this, there is still considerable debate regarding their formation. We have now provided new observations of shatter cones from several complex impact craters on Earth. This gives us valuable insight into the formation of shatter cones, their spatial distribution and setting within impact craters and their potential role in weakening the target before crater collapse.”
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