Radarsat investigation of a circular feature in east central Jordan

Abstract

A typical ring-like feature, located in east central Jordan about 150km south-east of Amman, is very obvious on Radarsat images. Four concentric circles, but only two perfect ones, were discriminated, ranging in size from about 6km to about 1km in diameter. At first glance, this feature greatly resembles an ideal impact structure. Previous geological studies, geophysical investigations and recent field observation proved the presence of a domal structure that incorporates lower Cretaceous sandstone at the core; middle of the central ring, and successively surrounded by a highly fractured and steeply dipping sequence of Cretaceous and lower Tertiary carbonates and chert. The principal faults and lineaments in the region follow N-W, N-E and E-W trends, the intersection of which is believed to have acted as a preferable place for the emplacement of an igneous body, most probably in the post-Eocene, which causes the domal uplift and the associated ring faults at Jabal Waqf as Suwwan. Interpretation of 1:60 00...