TALEMZANE: ALGERIAN IMPACT CRATER DETECTED ON SIR‐A ORBITAL IMAGING RADAR

Abstract

In November, 1981, NASA's first Shuttle Imaging Radar mission (SIR‐A) began producing maplike photographic strips of Earth scenes from orbital altitude. A Saharan radar image acquired over Algeria clearly delineates two sedimentary basins, Erg Occidental and Erg Oriental, separated by an elongated zone of exposed bedrock, the M'Zab Chebka. At the NE margin of the Chebka, rimrocks, slopes, and ejecta deposits of Talemzane meteorite impact crater appear as a distinct two km wide radar‐bright ring. This unique circle of strong radar backscatter distinguishes the solitary impact structure from numerous dayas (similarly appearing karstic depressions) which characterize the region. The crater is prominant on radar, but is obscure on optically obtained satellite and aircraft images, as are partly buried fluvial drainage systems and fault‐block traces developed in bedrocks of the Chebka. Radar detection of an annular drainage system indicates possible presence of a ring graben at the crater. Brightest radar signals on the image are cultural features at recently developed gas fields near Hassi er R'Mel.