Impact breccias are relatively rare at Barringer Crater. We know from the shafts drilled in the crater center that impact breccias probably underlie much of the interior of the crater. At this stop, we’ll examine some impact breccias that were transported outwards from the center and deposited on the crater walls.
| Impact Breccias with Overlying Talus Deposits Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency Location: Approximately halfway up the northern crater wall Scale: Height of the person is approximately 1.5 meters A scientist examines the contact (at head height) of the impact breccias (bright material) with overlying talus deposits. The latter are more recent and continue to be formed at the present day as the crater walls are being eroded. |  |
| Closeup view of Impact Breccias Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency Location: Approximately halfway up the northern crater wall Scale: Length of rock hammer is approximately 0.5 meter If we take a closer look, we can see that a variety of rocks have been mixed together to form a new rock: impact breccias. Notice the brick red fragments of Moenkopi Formation; there’s a large one just above the rock hammer. These breccias represent material that was excavated, mixed together, and transported outwards from the center of the crater as it was being formed. |  |
| Steep Crater Walls Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency Location: Approximately halfway up the northern crater wall Scale: Width of the larger boulders in the foreground is several meters This perspective of the crater certainly makes one appreciate the steepness of the crater walls. This view looks down a channel formed by present-day erosion of the crater walls. |  |
| View Looking to the Western Portion of Barringer Crater Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency Location: Approximately halfway up the northern crater wall Scale: Height from the floor to the crater rim is approximately 180 meters |  |
| Media: View of the impact breccias along the crater wall from the crater floor. | View or download media file (.mp4) |
