Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Evidence that Lake Cheko is not an impact crater

    Access Status
    Open access via publisher
    Authors
    Collins, G.
    Artemieva, N.
    Wünnemann, K.
    Bland, Phil
    Reimold, W.
    Koeberl, C.
    Date
    2008
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Collins, G. and Artemieva, N. and Wünnemann, K. and Bland, P. and Reimold, W. and Koeberl, C. 2008. Evidence that Lake Cheko is not an impact crater. Terra Nova. 20 (2): pp. 165-168.
    Source Title
    Terra Nova
    DOI
    10.1111/j.1365-3121.2008.00791.x
    ISSN
    0954-4879
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/26793
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    In a provocative paper Gasperini et al. (2007) suggest that Lake Cheko, a ~300-m-wide lake situated a few kilometres downrange from the assumed epicentre of the 1908 Tunguska event, is an impact crater. In this response, we present several lines of observational evidence that contradicts the impact hypothesis for the lake s origin: un-crater-like aspects of the lake morphology, the lack of impactor material in and around the lake, and the presence of apparently unaffected mature trees close to the lake. We also show that a tensile strength of 10–40 MPa is required for an asteroid fragment to traverse the Earth’s atmosphere and reach the surface intact and with sufficient velocity to excavate a crater the size of Lake Cheko. Inferred tensile strengths of large stony meteorites during atmospheric disruption are 10–100 times lower. We therefore conclude that Lake Cheko is highly unlikely to be an impact crater.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Ar-40/Ar-39 age of the Lake Saint Martin impact structure (Canada) - unchaining the late Triassic terrestrial impact craters
      Schmieder, M.; Jourdan, Fred; Tohver, E.; Cloutis, E. (2014)
      New 40Ar/39Ar dating of impact-melted K-feldspars and impact melt rock from the ~40 km Lake Saint Martin impact structure in Manitoba, Canada, yielded three plateau ages and one mini-plateau age in agreement with inverse ...
    • Limnology and biota of Lake Yindarlgooda - an inland salt lake in Western Australia under stress
      Campagna, Veronica (2007)
      Inland salt lakes of the arid and semi-arid zones of Western Australia are unique systems. An unpredictable rainfall pattern and a transient water regime ensure these lakes remain dry for much of the year. Lake Yindarlgooda ...
    • The classification of inland salt lakes in Western Australia
      Gregory, Stacey J (2007)
      Inland salt lakes in Western Australia have been used by the mining industry for the disposal of excess water generated during the mining process. However, the impact of these operations on the salt lakes is poorly ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.