Gow crater

{{Short description|Impact crater in Saskatchewan, Canada}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox terrestrial impact site

| name = Gow crater

| other_name =

| photo = Gow Lake - Landsat OLI 37.png

| photo_size =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Gow Lake - Landsat OLI 37

| location =

| map = Saskatchewan#Canada

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location of the Gow crater in Saskatchewan

| map_size =

| label_position =

| coordinates = {{coord|56|27|5|N|104|28|5|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref =

| confidence = confirmed

| diameter = {{cvt|5|km|mi|0}}

| age = < 250 million years old (Triassic)

| exposed = Yes

| drilled = No

| bolide =

| target =

| topo =

| access =

| country = Canada

| state =

| province = Saskatchewan

| district =

| municipality =

}}

Gow is an impact crater in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is {{convert|5|km|mi|0}} in diameter and the age is estimated to be less than 250 million years (Triassic or later). The crater contains a classic crater lake (Gow Lake) with an island (Calder Island) formed by the central uplift.{{cite Earth Impact DB | name = Gow | access-date = 2009-08-19}}{{cite journal

|url = http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e77-152

|title = The Gow Lake impact structure, northern Saskatchewan

|last1 = Thomas

|first1 = M.D.

|last2 = Innes

|first2 = M.J.S.

|journal = Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences

|publisher = NRC Research Press

|volume = 14

|pages = 1788–1795

|issn = 1480-3313

|date = 1977-03-03

|issue = 8

|doi = 10.1139/e77-152

|bibcode = 1977CaJES..14.1788T

|access-date = 2013-02-01|url-access = subscription

}} It is the smallest known crater in Canada with an uplift structure.{{cite journal |url=http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/2181.pdf |title=Shock Metamorphism in Impact Melt Rocks from the Gow Lake Impact Structure, Saskatchewan, Canada |first1=A. E. |last1=Pickersgill |first2=M. R. |last2=Lee |first3=D. F. |last3=Mark |first4=G. R. |last4=Osinski |journal=Lunar and Planetary Science Conference |year=2015 |issue=1832 |page=2181 |publisher=46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2015)

|bibcode=2015LPI....46.2181P |access-date=2015-11-19}}

The crater is unique in that it is the only preserved example of a transitional impact structure on earth. This is characterized by a crater having relatively smooth walls and a floor partly or completely covered by debris slumped from the crater walls. The only other example existing is in Australia, however it is extremely deteriorated. Due to this, the rock forming the crater bed is a unique form of breccia existing nowhere else on earth. This rock was formed when existing rock was liquified during the meteor impact. {{cite web | title=Gow Lake crater in Saskatchewan a rarity on Earth | website=thestarphoenix | date=2023-05-20 | url=https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/gow-lake-crater-in-saskatchewan-a-rarity-on-earth | access-date=2023-05-21}}

The larger Deep Bay crater, of Cretaceous age, is approximately {{convert|90|km}} east of Gow crater. The Carswell impact structure, also of Cretaceous age, is to the northwest of Gow.