Tookoonooka impact structure
{{Short description|Meteorite impact structure in Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox terrestrial impact site
| name = Tookoonooka impact structure
| other_name =
| photo =
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| map = Queensland
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of the impact structure in Queensland
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| location = Eromanga Basin
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| coordinates = {{coord|27|7|S|142|50|E|type:landmark_region:AU_scale:1000000|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref =
| confidence = Confirmed
| diameter = {{convert|55|-|66|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| depth =
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| imp_size =
| age = 128 ± 5 Ma
Early Cretaceous
| exposed = No
| drilled = Yes
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| country = Australia
| state = Queensland
| province =
| district = South West
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Tookoonooka is a large meteorite impact structure (astrobleme) situated in South West Queensland, Australia. It lies deeply buried within Mesozoic sedimentary rocks of the Eromanga Basin and is not visible at the surface.{{Cite Earth Impact DB |name=Tookoonooka |access-date=2017-10-09}}
Description
Tookoonooka was discovered using seismic data collected during routine petroleum exploration and first reported in a publication in 1989,Gorter J.D., Gostin V.A. & Plummer P. 1989. The Tookoonooka Structure: an enigmatic sub-surface feature in the Eromanga Basin, its impact origin and implications for petroleum exploration. In: O’Neil B.J. (editor) The Cooper and Eromanga Basins, Australia: Proceedings of the Cooper and Eromanga Basins Conference, Adelaide, 1989, pp. 441–456. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SA Branches). with proof of the impact theory coming from the discovery of shocked quartz in drill core.Gostin V.A. & Therriault A.M. 1997. Tookoonooka, a large buried Early Cretaceous impact structure in the Eromanga Basin of southwestern Queensland, Australia. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 32, 593–599. [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1997M%26PS...32..593G&db_key=AST&high=3c688e4da320668 Abstract and full PDF] Estimates of the crater diameter range from {{convert|55|km|mi|abbr=on}} to {{convert|66|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The impact occurred during deposition of the Cretaceous Cadna-owie Formation, the age of which is variously estimated at being between 123 and 133 Ma, or 115–112 Ma.Gorter J.D. 1998. The petroleum potential of Australian Phanerozoic impact structures. APPEA Journal 38, 159–187. Tookoonooka is associated with several small oil fields.
Talundilly impact structure
The seismic data reveal a similar nearby structure of the same age referred to as Talundilly.Longley I.M. 1989. The Talundilly anomaly and its implications for hydrocarbon exploration of Eromanga astroblemes. In: O'Neil B.J. (editor) The Cooper and Eromanga Basins, Australia: Proceedings of the Cooper and Eromanga Basins Conference, Adelaide, 1989, pp. 473–490. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SA Branches) Although it seems likely that Tookoonooka and Talundilly are paired impact structures, proof that the latter is of impact origin is not possible without drilling. Another proposed paired impact structures are the larger West and East Warburton Basin structures in the nearby state of South Australia.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/world-s-largest-asteroid-impact-zone-found-in-australia-1.3006800 World's largest asteroid impact zone found in Australia: Meteorite broke in two, leaving two craters each 200 km across]. Mar 24, 2015
See also
References
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{{Impact cratering on Earth}}
Category:Impact craters of Queensland