World Asteroid Day on June 30. Largest Crater of Asia is in MP: Dhala. Latest study shows some iron features exclusive to Dhala Crater
World Asteroid Day Today
Largest Crater of Asia is in MP: Dhala
Latest study shows some iron features exclusive to Dhala Crater
It’s World Asteroid Day on June 30, and cheers for Madhya Pradesh as we are home to India’s largest Impact crater ‘Dhala’ created by an asteroid collision. This is not it, the asteroid is helping geologists solve many mysteries of the earth. Interestingly, a recent study conducted by civil engineering department at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, India, showed that certain iron features are only seen in Dhala crater and not in others in India.
As per the research paper published by researchers of IIT Roorkee, certain iron features including 673 nm, 1000 nm, and 1700 nm, are only visible for the Dhala crater. This shows the changing face of earth over some million years.
The crater is estimated to be about 2,500 million years old.
Where is Dhala crater in MP?
It is situated near Bhonti village in Pichhore block of Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh state in India. It is the largest crater in India, and between the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia.
The original diameter of the structure is estimated at 3 km as per studies. However, now, the crater is known to be massive 11 km in diameter, making it the largest in Asia. Researchers have found evidence of deformed rocks that would have happened only due to heat released from high velocity impact. Most parts of the crater and the rim are now eroded but the geological structure can’t be missed.
What can you notice in Dhala crater?
• The rocks of the Dhala structure are mainly divided into two types, inner/central part consists of brecciated granites, melt breccias, and Vindhyan sediments and varieties of melt breccias dominate the outer part.
• Shock metamorphic evidence was also noticed. Reidite, a high-pressure variety of zircon, and potential evidence for the impact origin of the Dhala crater were found.
• The main rock type in the study area includes dacite to rhyolite rocks, granitoid, brecciated granites, brecciated quartz reefs and melt breccias.
Largest Crater of Asia is in MP: Dhala
Latest study shows some iron features exclusive to Dhala Crater
It’s World Asteroid Day on June 30, and cheers for Madhya Pradesh as we are home to India’s largest Impact crater ‘Dhala’ created by an asteroid collision. This is not it, the asteroid is helping geologists solve many mysteries of the earth. Interestingly, a recent study conducted by civil engineering department at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, India, showed that certain iron features are only seen in Dhala crater and not in others in India.
As per the research paper published by researchers of IIT Roorkee, certain iron features including 673 nm, 1000 nm, and 1700 nm, are only visible for the Dhala crater. This shows the changing face of earth over some million years.
The crater is estimated to be about 2,500 million years old.
Where is Dhala crater in MP?
It is situated near Bhonti village in Pichhore block of Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh state in India. It is the largest crater in India, and between the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia.
The original diameter of the structure is estimated at 3 km as per studies. However, now, the crater is known to be massive 11 km in diameter, making it the largest in Asia. Researchers have found evidence of deformed rocks that would have happened only due to heat released from high velocity impact. Most parts of the crater and the rim are now eroded but the geological structure can’t be missed.
What can you notice in Dhala crater?
• The rocks of the Dhala structure are mainly divided into two types, inner/central part consists of brecciated granites, melt breccias, and Vindhyan sediments and varieties of melt breccias dominate the outer part.
• Shock metamorphic evidence was also noticed. Reidite, a high-pressure variety of zircon, and potential evidence for the impact origin of the Dhala crater were found.
• The main rock type in the study area includes dacite to rhyolite rocks, granitoid, brecciated granites, brecciated quartz reefs and melt breccias.