Tswaing crater | |
---|---|
Impact crater/structure | |
Confidence | Confirmed |
Diameter | 1.13 km (0.70 mi) |
Depth | 100 m (330 ft) |
Impactor diameter | 30 to 50 m (98 to 164 ft) |
Age | 220 ± 52 Ka |
Location | |
Coordinates | 25°24′32″S 28°4′58″E / 25.40889°S 28.08278°E |
Country | South Africa |
Tswaing (Tswana for "place of salt"[1]) is an impact crater enclosed by a 1,946 ha nature reserve, situated in northern Gauteng province, South Africa. The crater and reserve are situated on a base of ancient granite of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, some 40 km to the north-northwest of Pretoria (just north of Soshanguve).[1] This astrobleme is 1.13 km in diameter[1] and 100 m deep[2] and its age is estimated to be 220,000 ± 52,000 years (Pleistocene).[3] The impactor is believed to have been a chondrite or stony meteorite some 30 to 50 m in diameter that was vaporised during the impact event.[3][4] Morokweng impact structure, another South African crater of chondrite origin, lies north-west of Vryburg. Since 1996 it falls under the auspices of Ditsong Museums of South Africa.[1]