What is impact crater in geology?

What is impact crater in geology?

Impact Craters. Craters produced by the collision of a meteorite with the Earth (or another planet or moon) are called impact craters. The high-speed impact of a large meteorite compresses, or forces downward, a wide area of rock. The pressure pulverizes the rock.

How does a complex impact crater form?

These are impact craters, each of which was formed when an asteroid or comet collided with the Moon’s surface. The large number of craters in this region indicates that this part of the Moon is quite ancient. Geologic processes have not erased the craters with time. Apollo 16 photograph courtesy of NASA.

What is the difference between a simple and complex crater?

Complex craters have a higher ratio of melt volume to transient crater volume compared to simple craters. Models suggest a crater the size of Tycho (102 km diameter) would have a ratio of ~0.04, producing a melt sheet ~150 m thick (Fig.

What are the two types of impact craters?

What are the different types of impact craters? Simple craters are small, bowl-shaped craters with smooth walls. Complex craters are larger craters. They have features such as central peaks and stepped sides.

What are the four types of craters?

The Moon holds craters, basins, mountains, rilles, and rays. Each has its own attributes, but all are related to impacts in some way. Lunar impact craters come in three basic types: simple craters, complex craters, and basins. Simple craters are what most people think of when they visualize a crater.

What does a complex crater look like?

Complex craters have uplifted centers, and they have typically broad flat shallow crater floors, and terraced walls. At the largest sizes, one or more exterior or interior rings may appear, and the structure may be labeled an impact basin rather than an impact crater.

What are the different types of craters?

Lunar impact craters come in three basic types: simple craters, complex craters, and basins. Simple craters are what most people think of when they visualize a crater. They tend to be bowl-shaped with rounded or small, flat floors. Simple craters also have smooth rims that lack terraces.