The first large meteorite impact structure discovered in the Middle East: Jebel Waqf as Suwwan, Jordan

Abstract

Abstract-Triggered by re-evaluation of a 1960s report on the regional geology of the northeastern border region of Jordan and following Landsat satellite image investigation, a 5.5 km diameter, complex, circular structure was discovered in the central eastern region of the Kingdom of Jordan. Initial ground truthing revealed complex geological structures involving Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene strata, and including a prominent outer rim rising up to 60 m above the surrounding plain, an intermediate ring of up to 20 m elevation within a ring syncline, and a central zone of stratigraphically uplifted sedimentary strata characterized by intense macroscopic (folding and faulting, widespread cataclasis) and locally mesoscopic (cataclasis) deformation. Ten sites with shatter cone development in fine-grained sandstone or limestone have been mapped to date, mostly in the outer parts of the central uplifted area. This finding confirms that the Jebel Waqf as Suwwan structure was formed as the result of the impact of an extraterrestrial projectile. Search for impactdiagnostic micro-deformation has been rather unsuccessful: only 1 quartz grain with both planar deformation features and planar fractures has been detected in a sandstone sample to date. The overall majority of the approximately 70 samples investigated by micropetrographic analysis consist of extremely fine-grained chert, siltstone, or marly limestone. Cataclasis is widespread in chert and limestone, also on the micro-scale. Considering the severely limited amount of characteristic impact microdeformation, and the stratigraphic situation within the central uplift, it is likely that a relatively deep level of the central uplift is currently exposed. The extensive drainage demonstrated for this region supports the conclusion that this impact structure could be quite deeply eroded-especially as its geology involves some relatively soft lithologies (marls, limestones). The age of this impact event is at present poorly constrained at post-Middle to Lower Eocene.

Estimates of yet-to-find impact crater population on Earth

“…The estimate of preserved Phanerozoic sediment is the largest area-timespan amount by some margin of all the case studies considered here (Murris 1980;Haq & Al-Qahtani 2005), yet there is only one known impact crater larger than 1 km diameter (Jebel Waqf as Suwwan, in Jordan, Salameh et al 2008; Table 3). A further possible impact crater, 2.5 km in diameter, has been imaged on 3D seismic reflection data in the Cretaceous of Oman (Levell et al 2002) but no other candidates are yet known.…”

The Last 15,000 Years: Climate-Controlled and “Rare-Event”-Triggered/Rise and Fall of Holocene Cultures in the Near/Middle East and in Central Europe—Evidence and Background

“…"The weather looked terrible… The ANNUNAKI (spirits of depths) raised up their torches to inflame the Country by their horrible brightness… Because of ADAD (God of weather) the sky fell into oppression, all brightness changing in darkness… The Country, the wide, broke like a pot… The southern storm blew for one day going to dip the mountains into water… Like a battle to subject human beings …Nobody can see each other… By this 'DELUGE' the Deities frightened… The Deities remained weeping… Six days and seven nights continued the winds, the 'DELUGE'… The hurricane eroded the country… On the approaching seventh day the hurricane stopped the 'DELUGE'… Looking around for one day there was silence… And mankind was completely transformed into soil" Thus, not only impact insiders may read evidence of typical impact features like wildfire [1], cataclysm [2], whirlstorm from south [3], erosion by tsunami [4], being close to the Sea [5], and complete destruction and extinction at all [6]. The setting described, was the Lowland of Mesopotamia that opens to the Persian Gulf and to possible tsunamis herewith.…”

“…exposes an overwhelming accumulation of hazards: this is Hoyle's Comet [3], a series of acid events [13], evidence of tektites [17] [18], euxinic sapropelites in the Eastern Mediterranean indicating oxygen deficit [35], stop of glacier retreat in alpine regions [6], tektites in wood for dendrochronologic dating [19], the impact-event of Köfels, Austria [36], the step by step disappearance/extinction of large heavy-weighted Mammals and their robbery enemies [15], and finally the last Mammoth found in Siberia [16]; a compilation of these events around 9600 yr B.P. see [37].…”

Circular geological structures outcropping in the sedimentary basins of Saudi Arabia

“…Analysis of crater distribution on Earth suggests that several impact structures of kilometer-scale and Phanerozoic age are probable in the Arabian peninsula (Stewart, 2011). The only other confirmed impact structure on the Arabian peninsula in addition to Wabar is the Jebel Waqf as Suwwan structure in Jordan (Abdelhamid, 2001;Salameh et al, 2008). However, a number of possible impact structures have been identified on the land surface in and around Saudi Arabia (McHone & Dietz, 1988).…”