Cratering process and morphological features of the Xiuyan impact crater in Northeast China

Abstract

By using crater impact morphological theory and mathematics modeling, the paper studies the cratering process and morphological features of the Xiuyan Crater in Northeast China based on remote sensing imagery, digital elevation model (DEM) and drilling and measuring data. The results show that: 1) Simulated calculation indicates the diameter of the transient crater was 1406±12 m and the depth was 497±4 m. The diameter of the final crater was 1758±15 m and the depth was 374.5±3.5 m; the thickness of the breccia lens was 188.5±0.5 m. The data is basically the same as previous drilling data. 2) Preliminary determination of the size of Xiuyan impactor: The diameter at about 55 m for an iron meteorite, and about 115 m for a stony meteorite. 3) The depth-to-diameter ratio is 0.143, similar to the typical simple crater. The circularity index of the Xiuyan Crater is 0.884, indicating erosion and degradation. 4) The distribution pattern of radial fractures has priority in NW-SE and WNW-ESE and these fractures control the development and evolution of drainage inside the crater.