Getting to bottom of crater mystery (Odessa, Texas)

The Dallas Morning News ^ | June 22, 2003 | By ALEXANDRA WITZE / The Dallas Morning News

[razorback-bert]

ping

[Dog Gone]

You'd think that in the heart of Permian Basin oil country, they come up with a drilling rig that is stronger than a paper clip.

When I visited that site, there was no nice museum and the crater was far from impressive.

The Wink Sink--now that's a hole.

[blam]

"Now the two are considered unrelated."

I wonder how they made that decision?

[Ditter]

Can you help this guy out?

[blam]

Odessa Meteor Crater

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

You'd think that in the heart of Permian Basin oil country, they come up with a drilling rig that is stronger than a paper clip.

With almost 1100 rigs running there may not be a good one left in west Texas. Sounds like they are using a small coring rig or a water well rig.

BTW you may be the only guy from California I know that has seen the Wink Sink! ;-)

[Sabertooth]

Odessa Crater...

 

 

Images of the Odessa Crater

Pictures Courtesy of Professor Glen Evans

 

This is what the Odessa crater looks like today. That this roughly circular formation is an impact crater is understood mainly from the nickel-iron debris that surrounds it.

During the excavation of 1944, core samples were taken in many parts of the crater. These core samples allowed geologists to make a model of the crater, most of which had long ago been buried.

The 1944 excavation of the Odessa meteor crater resulted in the model that is illustrated below. This model was developed from the core samples that were taken across the crater floor.The 20,000+ year old crater has been filled in by wind- and water-borne debris. The bottom of the crater is now only about ten feet below the level of the surrounding plain, but was much deeper right after the impact. The deformation of the layers caused by the impact is shown here, as is the collection of shattered rocks that were found at the bottom. The meteorite that produced the crater was destroyed in the explosion, sending pieces of it flying miles from the impact site. Some of these pieces are packaged in the kit.

[Sabertooth]

Ooops, forgot to link that table. Here.

[blam]

Thanks for the pictures.

[MeekOneGOP]

I wonder how they made that decision?

Who knows? Coin flip? hehe!

Bad/incomplete reporting I suppose.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for #8-9.

[Dog Gone]

There. Now everyone can see it.

[razorback-bert]

I have only seen it from the air in a small plane.

Reads as if they were using a water well unit and I don't think they hit limestone that shallow, most likely red bed shale.

Should have consulted some well logs in the area, before drilling.

[Lucy Lake]

All I see is a little red X.

[Dog Gone]

Hmmm, well you should be able to see them here

[RadioAstronomer]

MeeknMing: Thanks for the post.

Sabertooth: Thanks for the ping.

Physicist: The meteorite I sent is from this fall.

And a big ping for the rest of you! :-)

[Lucy Lake]

Thanks for the link, DG.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the graphics and the info. Nice job.

[Sabertooth]

Thanks Victoria. Nice to see you back.