Vredefort impact structure
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The Vredefort impact structure is one of the largest impact structures on Earth. The crater, which has since been worn away, has been estimated at 170–300 kilometres across when it was formed, the lat
The view from the top of Aasvoëlkop in the heart of the Vredefort impact structure with the Vaal River and Venterskroon on its right in the background
Pingualuit aerial 2007
Shatter cone
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Shatter cones are rare geological features that are only known to form in the bedrock beneath meteorite impact craters or underground nuclear explosions. They are evidence that the rock has been subje
Vredefort impact structure
…after Yarrabubba (2.23 billion years old) and possibly Miralga. The structure's extraterrestrial origin was established in 1961 after the location of shatter cones by American geologists Robert S. Dietz and Robert B. Hargraves, though an impact was proposed as early as 1937 by Claude C. Albritton and John D. Boon…
Shatter cone from the Steinheim Basin (type locality), Germany
Largest shatter cone registered, more than 9m in height, Slate Islands, Terrace Bay, Ontario, Canada
Typical shatter cone from Ries impact crater, Germany