[meteorite-list] Geologist Finds Meteorite Crater In The Japanese Alps

From: drtanuki <drtanuki_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:29:51 2004
Message-ID: <3F58B6C2.7E54FC0A_at_tkc.att.ne.jp>

Don't get your hopess up to high too fast. W have to confirm that
indead it a metorite impact; and second it all lie with National Park
Boundaries. Dirk.....Tokyo

Steve Schoner wrote:

> Wow,
>
> 20,000 to 30,000 years ago!
>
> There should be meteorites there.
>
> Maybe someday it would be good to check this site out
> with a good metal detector.
>
> Got to get in shape...
>
> Steve.
>
> --- drtanuki <drtanuki_at_tkc.att.ne.jp> wrote:
> > Dear List,
> > This will be reconfirmed within one or two months
> > depending upon our
> > schedules by Dr. Miura of Yamagugchi and Dirk Ross
> > of Planetary Data,
> > USA. The paper is premature and no final
> > conclusions should be made
> > until confirmation.
> > Sincerely, Dirk Ross...Tokyo
> >
> > Ron Baalke wrote:
> >
> > >
> >
> http://www.usatoday.com/news/science/2003-09-05-japan-crater_x.htm
> > >
> > > Geologist Finds meteorite's crater in the Japanese
> > Alps
> > > Associated Press
> > > September 4, 2003
> > >
> > > (AP) - A crater from a
> > > meteorite impact more than 20,000 years ago has
> > been discovered
> > > in the Japanese Alps, an amateur geologist
> > announced this week.
> > > The crater is the first found in this country.
> > >
> > > Masao Sakamoto said the crater stretches 900 yards
> > in diameter
> > > and spreads out across rugged, heavily forested
> > land in Nagano
> > > prefecture (state), about 100 miles west of Tokyo.
> > >
> > > Sakamoto, who announced his discovery at an
> > academic
> > > symposium earlier this week, said it went largely
> > unnoticed
> > > because only about 40% of the crater is visible.
> > >
> > > "If it had been a clear, pretty circle, it would
> > have been obvious
> > > that was a crater," Sakamoto told The Associated
> > Press on
> > > Friday. "Everyone around here is really surprised
> > by this."
> > >
> > > Sakamoto said analysis of the soil at the site
> > indicates a
> > > meteorite about 45 meters (150 feet) across
> > smashed into the
> > > area about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago.
> > >
> > > Sakamoto, an elementary school teacher, said he
> > studied the
> > > crater - located in the town next to his - for 20
> > years before he
> > > was able to determine it had been formed by a rock
> > from outer
> > > space.
> > >
> > > At first, Sakamoto thought the mountain ridge and
> > basin might
> > > have been formed by a volcano, a fault, or even
> > sculpted out by a
> > > glacier. But the soil he found didn't match any of
> > those theories.
> > >
> > > After studying craters in the United States and
> > Europe, he
> > > discovered some of them had similar features to
> > his ridge -
> > > including a mysterious uneven stretch of valleys
> > and hills in
> > > middle of the woods.
> > >
> > > Quartz found on the site was then proved to have
> > been formed as
> > > a result of the intense heat created by the impact
> > of a meteorite,
> > > Sakamoto said.
> > >
> > > Sakamoto presented his findings at a symposium
> > sponsored by
> > > the National Institute of Polar Research, which is
> > involved in
> > > geology and geophysics studies. The announcement
> > was
> > > front-page news in Japan.
> > >
> > > Sakamoto said he hopes the finding of an impact
> > crater in Japan
> > > will allow his colleagues easier access to carry
> > out field studies
> > > in meteorite research.
> > >
> > > "The biggest honor is to have spurred such
> > opportunities in Japan,"
> > > he said.
> > >
> > > ______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
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Received on Fri 05 Sep 2003 12:16:04 PM PDT