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Joint South-Central and North-Central Sections, both conducting their 41st Annual Meeting (11–13 April 2007)

Paper No. 7
Presentation Time: 8:40 AM-12:00 PM

GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR (GPR) PROFILES OF HAVILAND CRATER, KANSAS


CLICK, Katie1, SNYDER, Richard D.1, EVANS, Kevin R.2 and MICKUS, Kevin L.3, (1)Kickapoo High School, 3710 S. Jefferson Ave, Springfield, MO 65807, (2)Geography, Geology, & Planning, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave, Springfield, MO 65897, (3)Southwest Missouri State Univ, 901 S National Ave, Springfield, MO 65804-0087, kate6288@sbcglobal.net

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is being used to investigate Haviland impact crater in Kiowa County, western Kansas. A 20 x 20 m survey grid was established, and a 250 MHz antenna was used to image the upper part of the crater. A 100 MHz antenna will be used to examine deeper into the structure. The key features interpreted from radar profiles are shallowly dipping reflections and a buried meteoritic mass that marks the crater floor. Further studies will examine the relationship of the crater size to model the mass of the imactor and determine the terrestrial age of the impact. Another hypothesis to be tested includes characterization of locations of buried masses that likely are meteorites and identification of other possible craters that may have formed during the impact.

Haviland crater has a long history and prehistory. Brenham pallasite meteorites were first discovered by Native Americans and later were re-discovered at various depths by settlers in the 1880's. Fragments of the meteorite have been found across a strewn field mostly north and west of the crater location. Recent finds of fragments, some greater than 600 kg, indicate that a significant amount of material likely remains in place and may provide valuable clues to the age and origin of the impact as well as details of the atmospheric break up and ballistic emplacement of fragments.

Haviland crater was long regarded as a buffalo wallow. Harvey Nininger, a scientist from MacPherson College, suggested an impact origin for the feature, and in the early 1930's, he partially excavated it to reveal a layer of meteoritic material buried to a maximum depth of 3.35 m. Nininger also noted an 11.0 x 16.8 m elliptical outline and an asymmetrically conical shape. Although the original dimensions of the excavation were reported, the filling and subsequent history of the crater are not known. In this effort, we are using GPR to resolve the crater morphology as well as the location of the disturbed area.

Session No. 38--Booth# 29

T9. Geophysics in the Midcontinent (Posters)
Friday, 13 April 2007: 8:40 AM-12:00 PM
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 39, No. 3, p.71
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