Tunnunik impact structure
{{Short description|Meteorite impact structure in Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox terrestrial impact site
| name = Tunnunik impact structure
| other_name = Prince Albert impact crater
| photo =
| photo_size =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =
| location = Prince Albert Peninsula
| map = Canada Northwest Territories#Canada
| map_alt = Map of the Northwest Territories in Canada, showing where the Tunnunik impact crater is located.
| map_caption = Location of the Tunnunik Impact Crater in the Northwest Territories
| map_size =
| label_position =
| coordinates = {{coord|72|28|N|113|56|W|region:CA-NT|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| confidence = Confirmed
| diameter = ~{{convert|25|km|abbr=on}}
| age = ~450–430 million years
| exposed = Yes
| drilled =
| bolide =
| topo =
| access =
| country = Canada
| state =
| province = Northwest Territories
| district =
| municipality =
}}
The Tunnunik impact structure, formerly known as the Prince Albert Impact Crater, is a recently confirmed meteorite impact structure. It is located on Prince Albert Peninsula in the northwestern part of Victoria Island{{ref|note|[A]}} in Canada's Northwest Territories.
The {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} wide structure was discovered in 2010 by Brian Pratt, professor of geology at the University of Saskatchewan, and Keith Dewing of the Geological Survey of Canada during an aerial survey of the region. The structure is estimated to have formed between 450 and 430 million years ago, during the Ordovician period, based mainly on paleomagnetic analysis.{{Cite journal |last=Lepaulard |first=C. |last2=Gattacceca |first2=J. |last3=Swanson-Hysell |first3=N. |last4=Quesnel |first4=Y. |last5=Demory |first5=F. |last6=Osonski |first6=G.R. |date=2019 |title=A Paleozoic age for the Tunnunik impact structure |journal=Meteoritics & Planetary Science |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=740–751 |doi=10.1111/maps.13239}} It is estimated that it was created when a meteor a few kilometres in diameter struck the Earth.{{Cite journal |last=Dewing |first=K. |last2=Pratt |first2=B.R. |last3=Hadlari |first3=T. |last4=Brent |first4=T. |last5=Bédard |first5=J. |last6=Rainbird |first6=R.H. |date=2013 |title=Newly identified “Tunnunik” impact structure, Prince Albert Peninsula, northwestern Victoria Island, Arctic Canada |journal=Meteoritics & Planetary Science |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=211–223 |doi=10.1111/maps.12052}} The desert-like landscape of impact structure like Tunnunik can be useful in understanding the geology of other rocky planets such as Mars.
It is Canada's 30th known meteorite impact feature.
Notes
{{note|note|[A]}} Not to be confused with the unconfirmed Victoria Island structure in California, United States.
References
{{reflist|refs=
| url=http://www.passc.net/EarthImpactDatabase/tunnunik.html
| title=Tunnunik (Prince Albert)
| access-date=July 16, 2015
| work=Earth Impact Database
| publisher=Planetary and Space Science Centre
| archive-date=March 4, 2016
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064528/http://www.passc.net/EarthImpactDatabase/tunnunik.html
| url-status=dead
}}
{{cite news
| url = http://news.usask.ca/2012/07/25/researcher-discovers-new-impact-crater-in-the-arctic/
| title = Researchers discover new impact crater in the Arctic
| publisher = University of Saskatchewan
| date = July 25, 2012
| archive-date = February 25, 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130225195748/http://news.usask.ca/2012/07/25/researcher-discovers-new-impact-crater-in-the-arctic/
| url-status = live
| quote = The researchers discovered the crater two summers ago while exploring the area by helicopter for the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Geo-Mapping for Energy and Minerals program, and it took two years to properly assemble the geological maps and submit their article for publication. Pratt and Dewing named the new discovery the Prince Albert impact crater after the peninsula where it is situated. Note: Geographic coordinates are in the comments section.}}
{{cite news
| url = https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/07/25/meteor_crater_huge_hole_25_kilometres_wide_discovered_in_arctic_but_was_it_made_by_a_meteorite.html
| title = Meteor crater: Huge hole 25 kilometres wide discovered in Arctic, but was it made by a meteorite?
| publisher = The Toronto Star
| date = July 25, 2012
| location = Saskatoon
| archive-date = December 2, 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131202034905/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/07/25/meteor_crater_huge_hole_25_kilometres_wide_discovered_in_arctic_but_was_it_made_by_a_meteorite.html
| url-status = live
| quote = Pratt said he and Dewing knew from earlier surveys of the remote area that dipping, and even vertical rock faces, had been found on Victoria Island, so they wanted to check them out. Most rocks in the Arctic have horizontal strata and have never been folded or faulted by tectonic pressure, Pratt explained.}}
}}
External links
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/usask/sets/72157630747745754/ University of Saskatchewan Flickr gallery]
{{Portal|Geology|Canada}}
{{Impact cratering on Earth}}
Category:Impact craters of the Northwest Territories
Category:Ordovician Northwest Territories