Critical comment on: A.J. Mory et al. ‘Woodleigh, Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia: a new 120 km diameter impact structure’

Abstract

Mory et al. [1] claim to report `a newly discovered basement-cored, multi-ring impact structure' and hint `at a possible Permian^Triassic boundary age for the impact'. They purport that this structure could be as large as 120 km in diameter. This comment emphasizes that these authors indeed identi¢ed a potentially interesting structure, but that the evidence presented is inconclusive and not well constrained. It does not prove that Woodleigh is of impact origin. Mory et al.'s [1] claims, especially regarding the alleged size of this structure and correlation with the P/Tr boundary mass extinction, have generated extensive public interest. Presentation of such an alleged discovery must adhere stringently to scienti¢c principles, namely that convincing evidence is obtained before interpretation, which itself should not go beyond the limits set by the data at hand. This comment demonstrates that Mory et al. did not conform to this principle. Issue will be taken with the arguments of Mory et al. in the sequence according to the structure of their paper. 1. Regional geological setting