Impact Crater Jebel Waqf as Suwwan

Geology of the impact crater Jebel Waqf as Suwwan, Jordan

Central Uplift of the crater of Jebel Waqf as Suwwan.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Kenkmann

Funding organization: DFG RE/528/7-1

Term: seit 2008

Coorperation partners:

Prof. Dr. Uwe Reimold, Berlin Museum of Natural History

Prof. Dr. Elias Salameh, Prof. Dr. Hani Khoury, Dr. Maria Khirfan; University of Jordan, Amman

Abstract

In the central Eastern border area of the Kingdom of Jordan, in May 2008 a new meteorite crater of 6 km diameter was discovered. The eroded structure shows a central elevation of 1 km diameter. This elevation correlates with a noticeable positive gravity anomaly, and further exhibits peculiar ring structures.

The field examinations proved that the Jebel Waqf as Suwwan structure was formed by the impact of an extraterrestrial bullet. Shatter Cones as microscopic shock markers were found at different locations. Microstructural evidence of shocked quartz grains was adduced in the centre of the structure. The age of the structure is estimated to be middle to under Eocene.

The crater is especially suitable for studying the deformation of the underground and the formation of the central mountain. As the underground of the crater consists of very different competent sediment rock (sand stone, clay, cretaceous, limestone, chert), the influence on the crater formation concerning lithology and interstratification can be analyzed.

Currently a drilling campaign in the crater structure is being arranged.

Publications

KENKMANN, T., REIMOLD, W. U., KHIRFAN, M., SALAMEH, E., KONSUL, K. AND KHOURY, H. (2010). The complex impact crater Jebel Waqf as Suwwan in Jordan: effects of target heterogeneity and impact obliquity on central uplift formation. Geological Society of America Special Paper (in press).

KHIRFAN, M., CROSTA, A. P., KENKMANN, T. , SALAMEH, E., REIMOLD, W.U. (2009). Remote sensing analysis of Jabal Waqf as Suwwan meteorite impact. 1st Arabian Impact Cratering Conference, Amman, November 9-11.

KENKMANN, T., KHIRFAN, M., REIMOLD, W. U., SALAMEH, E., KONSUL, K. AND KHOURY, H., (2009) The structure of the Jebel Waqf as Suwwan impact crater, Jordan, as revealed from field analysis, remote sensing mapping, and interpretation of geophysical data. 1st Arabian Impact Conference, Amman, November 9-11; 2 pp.

KENKMANN, T., REIMOLD, W. U., KHIRFAN, M., SALAMEH, E. K. KONSUL, K., LEHMANN, T. AND KHOURY, H. (2009). The impact crater Jebel Waqf as Suwwan in Jordan: effects of target heterogeneity and impact obliquity on central uplift formation. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 23-27. 2009, Houston, TX, USA, CD-Rom #1592.

SALAMEH, E., KHOURY, H., REIMOLD, W. U., SCHNEIDER, W., KENKMANN, T. (2008). First Large Meteorite Impact Structure Discovered in the Middle East: Jebel Waqf As Suwwan, Jordan. Large Meteorite Impacs and Planetary Evolution IV, Parys, South Africa. LPI Contribution No. 1423, paper id. 3106.

KENKMANN, T., KHIRFAN, M., SALAMEH, E., REIMOLD, W. U., OMARY, Y., KONSUL, K. AND KHOURY, H. (2008). Structural Analysis and Remote Sensing of Jabal Waqf as Suwwan Meteorite Impact Crater. Jahrestagung Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft.

KHIRFAN, M., KENKMANN, T., SALAMEH, E., OMARY, Y., AND REIMOLD, W. U., (2008). Remote Sensing and Structural Analysis of Jabal Waqf as Suwwan Meteorite Impact Crater. Large Meteorite Impacs and Planetary Evolution IV, Parys, South Africa.