Maniitsoq structure

Maniitsoq structure
Maniitsoq structure is located in Greenland
Maniitsoq structure
Impact crater/structure
ConfidencePotential (2)
Diameter100 km (62 mi)
AgeMesoarchean
~3 Ga
ExposedYes
Location
Coordinates65°15′N 51°50′W / 65.250°N 51.833°W / 65.250; -51.833 (Maniitsoq)
CountryGreenland
MunicipalityManiitsoq

The Maniitsoq structure is a proposed 3 billion-year-old (3 Ga) impact structure located in the Akia terrane of the North Atlantic Craton,[1][2] centred about 55 km (34 mi) south-east of the town of Maniitsoq, Greenland, at 65°15′N 51°50′W / 65.250°N 51.833°W / 65.250; -51.833 (Maniitsoq). Its origin has been debated since it was first proposed as an impact structure in 2012.[1] The Maniitsoq structure is not recognised as an impact structure by the Earth Impact Database.[3]

The proposal was criticised for not meeting established criteria for recognising impact craters.[2][4] Subsequent studies in the region found no evidence for an impact structure, and a number of observations directly contradict the earlier impact structure proposals.[5][6][7][8]

In support of the proposal, a study published in 2023,[9] used electron microscopy to examine zircon grains from seven sites, including the Maniitsoq structure. The study found distinctive shock-induced planar microstructures in the zircon grains from the four recognized impact structure, as well as in the Maniitsoq structure. These microstructures were not found in grains from the two non-impact tectonic deformation structures.

  1. ^ a b Adam A.Garde, Iain McDonald, Brendan Dyck, Nynke Keulen (2012). "Searching for giant, ancient impact structures on Earth: The Mesoarchaean Maniitsoq structure, West Greenland". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 337–338: 197–210. Bibcode:2012E&PSL.337..197G. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2012.04.026 – via Elsevier Science Direct.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Wolf U. Reimold, Roger L. Gibson, Christian Koeberl (2013). "Comment on "Searching for giant, ancient impact structures on Earth: The Mesoarchaean Maniitsoq structure, West Greenland" by Garde et al". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 369–370: 333–335. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2013.04.014 – via Elsevier Science Direct.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Earth Impact Database". www.passc.net. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  4. ^ Wolf U. Reimold, Ludovic Ferrière, Alex Deutsch, Christian Koeberl (2014). "Impact controversies: Impact recognition criteria and related issues". Meteoritics and Planetary Science. 49 (5): 723–731. Bibcode:2014M&PS...49..723R. doi:10.1111/maps.12284. S2CID 128625029.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ C. L. Kirkland, C. Yakymchuk, J. Hollis, H. Heide-Jørgensen, M. Danišík (2018). "Mesoarchean exhumation of the Akia terrane and a common Neoarchean tectonothermal history for West Greenland". Precambrian Research. 314: 129–144. Bibcode:2018PreR..314..129K. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2018.06.004. S2CID 135213870.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ N. J. Gardiner, C. L. Kirkland, J. Hollis, K. Szilas, A. Steenfelt, C. Yakymchuk, H. Heide-Jørgensen (2019). "Building Mesoarchaean crust upon Eoarchaean roots: the Akia Terrane, West Greenland". Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. 174 (3): 20. Bibcode:2019CoMP..174...20G. doi:10.1007/s00410-019-1554-x. hdl:10023/18486. S2CID 134027320.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ C. Yakymchuk, C. L. Kirkland, J. A. Hollis, J. Kendrick, N. J. Gardiner, K. Szilas (2020). "Mesoarchean partial melting of mafic crust and tonalite production during high-T–low-P stagnant tectonism, Akia Terrane, West Greenland". Precambrian Research. 339: 105615. Bibcode:2020PreR..339j5615Y. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2020.105615. hdl:10023/19439. S2CID 213973363.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Pedro Waterton, William R. Hyde, Jonas Tusch, Julie A. Hollis, Christopher L. Kirkland, Carson Kinney, Chris Yakymchuk, Nicholas J. Gardiner, David Zakharov, Hugo K. H. Olierook, Peter C. Lightfoot, Kristoffer Szilas (2020). "Geodynamic Implications of Synchronous Norite and TTG Formation in the 3 Ga Maniitsoq Norite Belt, West Greenland". Frontiers in Earth Science. 8: 562062. Bibcode:2020FrEaS...8..406W. doi:10.3389/feart.2020.562062. hdl:10023/20744.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Adam A. Garde; L. Johansson; N. Keulen; A. Schreiber; R. Wirth (2023). "Zircon Microstructures in Large, Deeply Eroded Impact Structures and Terrestrial Seismites". Journal of Petrology, Oxford University Press. 64 (11). Retrieved 28 August 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 4.0 license.