Mistastin crater

Mistastin crater
Impact crater/structure
ConfidenceConfirmed[1]
Diameter19 kilometres (12 mi)
Age36.6 ± 2 million years old (Eocene Epoch)
ExposedYes
DrilledYes
Location
LocationLabrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Coordinates55°53′N 63°18′W / 55.883°N 63.300°W / 55.883; -63.300
Mistastin crater is located in Newfoundland and Labrador
Mistastin crater
Mistastin crater
Location of the Mistastin crater in Newfoundland and Labrador
Topo mapCanada NTS 13M14 Mistastin Lake
Mistastin Lake
Mistastin Lake is located in Newfoundland and Labrador
Mistastin Lake
Mistastin Lake
Coordinates55°53′N 63°18′W / 55.883°N 63.300°W / 55.883; -63.300
TypeImpact crater lake
Basin countriesCanada
Max. length19 km (12 mi)
Max. width12 km (7.5 mi)
Surface area145 km2 (56 sq mi)
Surface elevation338 metres (1,109 ft)
IslandsMishta-minishtikᐡ[2]

Mistastin crater is a meteorite crater in Labrador, Canada which contains the roughly circular Mistastin Lake.[3] The lake is approximately 16 km (9.9 mi) in diameter, while the estimated diameter of the original crater is 28 km (17 mi). The age of the crater is calculated to be 36.6 ± 2 million years (Eocene).[4]

The lake was first identified as a possible impact crater in 1968,[5][6] after being viewed from space.[7]

  1. ^ "Mistastin". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  2. ^ "Place names - Mishta-minishtikᐡ". Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Mistastin". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  4. ^ Mader, M.M., The Mistastin Lake Impact Structure As A Terrestrial Analogue Site For Lunar Science And Exploration, doctorate (University of Western Ontario), 2015, p. 13.
  5. ^ Currie K. L. (1968). "Mistastin Lake, Labrador: A new Canadian crater". Nature. 220 (5169): 776–777. Bibcode:1968Natur.220..776C. doi:10.1038/220776a0. S2CID 4172509.
  6. ^ Taylor, F. C.; Dence, M. R. (1969). "A probable meteorite origin for Mistastin Lake, Labrador". Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 6 (1): 39–45. Bibcode:1969CaJES...6...39T. doi:10.1139/e69-004.
  7. ^ Patel, Kasha (16 November 2022). "Can't go to the moon? This crater in Canada is the next best thing". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022.