Possible Sudanese Extraterrestrial Impact Crater Reexamined
Sparavigna (2010) conducted a survey of the Bayuda desert
region in Sudan using satellite images from Google Maps. As
a result of this survey and the use of AstroFracTool to enhance
edges without loosing the "whole texture" of the image, they
recognized a 10-km in diameter "crater-like landform" about
40 km west of Berber town at 18˚ 3' 25.52" N, 33˚ 30.22 W. Because
of lack of information, Sparavigna (2010) noted that the origin,
i.e. volcanic, hypervelocity impact, or other, of the crater-like
landform remains unresolved. Both Anonymous(2010) and
McNally (2010) reported this feature as being a brand new,
undiscovered "crater." McNally (2010) also stated that "no
one has gone to the Bayuda crater site to confirm that it was
formed by a meteor impact."
Contrary to what is stated by Sparavigna (2010), Anonymous
(2010), and McNally (2010), this feature was discovered and
investigated years before 2010. This feature was studied and
mapped by Barth and Meinhold (1979, 1981) and Brath et al.
(1983). The geology of this feature is also summarized and
illustrated in Woolley (2001). These publications demonstrate
that this feature is, as classified by the Earth Impact Database
by David Rajom, a class 5 feature that is neither an
extraterrestrial impact structure nor crater. Instead it is an
igneous intrusion.
According to Woolley (2001), this feature is the Singeir igneous
ring complex. This intrusive complex is 15 km in diameter. To
the northeast of it lies the smaller Kurbei igneous intrusion. The
Singeir igneous ring complex consists of arcuate intrusions of
sodic amphibole granite that contain stringers of biotite-
hornblende granite (Barth and Meinhold, 1979, 1981; Brath
et al., 1983; Woolley, 2001).
References Cited,
Anonymous, 2010, New Desert Crater Found Using Google
Maps and Free Software. Physics arXiv Blog, MIT Technology
Review, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge,
Massachusetts (August 10, 2010)
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/25583/
Barth, H. and K.-D. Meinhold, 1979. Mineral prospecting in
the Bayuda Desert. Part " Volume A. Investigation of mineral
potential. Technical Rcport Sudanese-German Exploration
Project. Hannover (Bundesanstalt fur Geowissenschaften
und Rohstoffe ).
Barth, H. and K.-D. Meinhold, 1981, Geological map of the
Bayuda Desert, Sudan. 1:250,000. Bundesanstalt fur
Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Hannover and Geological
and Mineral Resources Department, Khartoum.
Barth, H., C. Besang, H. Lenz, and K.-D. Meinhold, 1983, Results
of petrological investigations and RblSr age determinations
on the non-orogenic igneous ring-complexes in the Bayuda
Desert, Sudan. Geologisches Jahrbuch. v. 51, pp. 1-34.
McNally, J., 2010, Asteroid Crater Hunting From Your Home.
Wired Science (August 10, 2010)
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/crater-hunting/
Sparavigna, A. C., 2010, Crater-like landform in Bayuda desert
(a processing of satellite images). arXiv:1008.0500v1
[physics.geo-ph], Cornell University Library, Ithaca New York
http://arxiv.org/abs/1008.0500
Woolley, A. R., 2001, Alkakline Rocks and Carbonatites of the
World, Part 3: Africa. London, United Kingdom, The Geological
Society of London.
Yours,
Paul H.
region in Sudan using satellite images from Google Maps. As
a result of this survey and the use of AstroFracTool to enhance
edges without loosing the "whole texture" of the image, they
recognized a 10-km in diameter "crater-like landform" about
40 km west of Berber town at 18˚ 3' 25.52" N, 33˚ 30.22 W. Because
of lack of information, Sparavigna (2010) noted that the origin,
i.e. volcanic, hypervelocity impact, or other, of the crater-like
landform remains unresolved. Both Anonymous(2010) and
McNally (2010) reported this feature as being a brand new,
undiscovered "crater." McNally (2010) also stated that "no
one has gone to the Bayuda crater site to confirm that it was
formed by a meteor impact."
Contrary to what is stated by Sparavigna (2010), Anonymous
(2010), and McNally (2010), this feature was discovered and
investigated years before 2010. This feature was studied and
mapped by Barth and Meinhold (1979, 1981) and Brath et al.
(1983). The geology of this feature is also summarized and
illustrated in Woolley (2001). These publications demonstrate
that this feature is, as classified by the Earth Impact Database
by David Rajom, a class 5 feature that is neither an
extraterrestrial impact structure nor crater. Instead it is an
igneous intrusion.
According to Woolley (2001), this feature is the Singeir igneous
ring complex. This intrusive complex is 15 km in diameter. To
the northeast of it lies the smaller Kurbei igneous intrusion. The
Singeir igneous ring complex consists of arcuate intrusions of
sodic amphibole granite that contain stringers of biotite-
hornblende granite (Barth and Meinhold, 1979, 1981; Brath
et al., 1983; Woolley, 2001).
References Cited,
Anonymous, 2010, New Desert Crater Found Using Google
Maps and Free Software. Physics arXiv Blog, MIT Technology
Review, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge,
Massachusetts (August 10, 2010)
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/25583/
Barth, H. and K.-D. Meinhold, 1979. Mineral prospecting in
the Bayuda Desert. Part " Volume A. Investigation of mineral
potential. Technical Rcport Sudanese-German Exploration
Project. Hannover (Bundesanstalt fur Geowissenschaften
und Rohstoffe ).
Barth, H. and K.-D. Meinhold, 1981, Geological map of the
Bayuda Desert, Sudan. 1:250,000. Bundesanstalt fur
Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Hannover and Geological
and Mineral Resources Department, Khartoum.
Barth, H., C. Besang, H. Lenz, and K.-D. Meinhold, 1983, Results
of petrological investigations and RblSr age determinations
on the non-orogenic igneous ring-complexes in the Bayuda
Desert, Sudan. Geologisches Jahrbuch. v. 51, pp. 1-34.
McNally, J., 2010, Asteroid Crater Hunting From Your Home.
Wired Science (August 10, 2010)
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/crater-hunting/
Sparavigna, A. C., 2010, Crater-like landform in Bayuda desert
(a processing of satellite images). arXiv:1008.0500v1
[physics.geo-ph], Cornell University Library, Ithaca New York
http://arxiv.org/abs/1008.0500
Woolley, A. R., 2001, Alkakline Rocks and Carbonatites of the
World, Part 3: Africa. London, United Kingdom, The Geological
Society of London.
Yours,
Paul H.
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