Reimold W. U., Ferriere L., Crosta A. P., Vasconcelos M. A. R., Gottwald M., da Silva Borges M., de Almeida T. I. R., Pereira F. L., Goes A. M., Hauser N., Jessell M., Baratoux David. (2022). Nova Colinas, Maranhao State : a newly confirmed, complex impact structure in Brazil. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, [Early access], [23 p.]. ISSN 1086-9379.
Titre du document
Nova Colinas, Maranhao State : a newly confirmed, complex impact structure in Brazil
Année de publication
2022
Auteurs
Reimold W. U., Ferriere L., Crosta A. P., Vasconcelos M. A. R., Gottwald M., da Silva Borges M., de Almeida T. I. R., Pereira F. L., Goes A. M., Hauser N., Jessell M., Baratoux David
Source
Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 2022,
[Early access], [23 p.] ISSN 1086-9379
The Nova Colinas structure is an approximately 7 km wide, nearly circular feature centered at 07 degrees 09 ' 33 ' S/46 degrees 06 ' 30 ' W in Nova Colinas municipality in southwestern Maranhao State, Brazil. The area has been investigated for 40 yr and it has been suggested repeatedly that the structure could be of impact origin-without proof having been furnished. Magnetic anomaly maps depict the structure clearly with a strong, positive magnetic anomaly over the apparent rim zone. The central area is characterized by significant positive K and Th radiometric anomalies. Fieldwork showed that the structure has annular features along the outside and some prominent, structurally dissected hills in the interior. Thirty-three arenite samples were collected for petrographic analysis, mostly from within the structure. Microdeformation, in the form of cataclasis; concussion fractures related to compaction, and presence of planar fractures, feather features, and planar deformation features in quartz are reported. Three samples with a multitude of quartz grains with these microdeformations were analyzed by universal stage to determine the crystallographic orientations of planar fractures and planar deformation features. The results provide robust evidence that these microdeformation features represent shock metamorphism, with low (approximately 5-10 GPa) to moderate (10-16 and 10-20 GPa) shock levels. Thus, the Nova Colinas structure is now confirmed as a bona fide meteorite impact structure. The structure is moderately eroded, as shown by the absence of stronger shock deformation. The still limited available structural geological field evidence, paired with remote sensing and geophysical data, indicates that the innermost part of the structure may have a sizable remnant of a central uplift. The Nova Colinas impact age is only poorly constrained from stratigraphic inference to an upper limit of about 200-250 Ma.
Plan de classement
Géologie et formations superficielles [064]
Description Géographique
BRESIL
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010085336]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010085336
