Soon after, gravity maps and underground drilling showed that this site had many of the signatures expected from the location of an impact site. The gravity data is particularly compelling.

http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/Communication/Lee/main.html

In short, a likely candidate crater had been found. Drilling of the rocks ultimately proved that the Chicxulub crater was an impact structure of the correct age.

Aside: big craters have central peaks (see also some images of Europa). Here is a cool animation that shows how craters (and central peaks) form.

Back Next

Back to Lecture 23 outline

Back to lectures page

Back to main course page