Tenoumer crater

Tenoumer is a probable impact crater in Mauritania.<ref>Template:Cite Earth Impact DB</ref>

Details

The crater is located in the western Sahara Desert. It is Template:Cvt in diameter and its age was estimated to be 21,400 ± 9,700 years old but as of 2016, is thought to be ~1.57 Ma.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The crater is exposed at the surface and is nearly circular. Edges of the crater rise up to Template:Cvt high above the base of the crater, but the bottom of the crater is covered with an approximately Template:Cvt thick layer of sediments.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tenoumer crater has formed in gneiss and granite of Precambrian peneplain with a thin layer of Pliocene sediments (no older). The crater is believed to be caused by an impact event due to basement rocks found outside the crater. A volcanic origin was once theorized because of the discovery of basalt and rhyodacite outside of the crater basin,<ref>METEORITE OR VOLCANO?</ref> but current evidence clearly indicates an impact origin.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Nasa - Image of the Day February 17, 2008
• Meteorite impact structures
• Additional Images of Tenoumer crater

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