Tin Bider crater

Tin Bider (Arabic: تين بيدر) is an impact crater that sits in dry, rugged terrain in Algeria.[1][2] The crater was formed in the last 70 million years, perhaps in the late Cretaceous or early Tertiary Period.[2] Spanning 6 kilometres, the crater sits at the southern end of a range of hills.[2] The elevated position and concentric rings of Tin Bider suggest that its structure is complex.

Tin Bider crater
Landsat image of the Tin Bider crater; screen capture from NASA World Wind
Impact crater/structure
ConfidenceConfirmed
Diameter6 km (3.7 mi)
Age<70 Ma
<Late Cretaceous
ExposedYes
DrilledNo
Location
LocationTinrhert Plateau
Coordinates27°36′7″N 5°6′44″E
CountryAlgeria
StateTamanrasset Province
Tin Bider crater is located in Algeria
Tin Bider crater
Location of the crater in Algeria

Massive sandstones attributable to the Lower Cretaceous, known throughout the Sahara, are only exposed in the craters centre, about 500 meters above its usual stratigraphic position.

Because of the large prominence of ductile deformation, Tin Bider significantly differs from other craters. While there is yet no conclusive explanation for this unique condition, Tin Bider could provide important information toward a better understanding of large-scale impact cratering.

  • Natural-colour satellite image of Tin Bider Crater
    Natural-colour satellite image of Tin Bider Crater
  • Schematic map of Tin Bider impact structure
    Schematic map of Tin Bider impact structure
  • Cross-section of Tin Bider impact structure
    Cross-section of Tin Bider impact structure

See also

References
  1. "Tin Bider". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
  2. "Tin Bider Crater, Algeria". NASA.

Further reading
  • Koeberl, C., African meteorite impact craters: Characteristics and geological importance. Journal of African Sciences, v. 18, pp. 263–295. 1994
  • Lambert, P., McHone, J.F. Jr., Dietz, R.S., Briedj, M. and Djender,M., Impact and impact-like structures in Algeria. Part II, multi-ringed structures. Meteoritics, v. 16, pp. 203–227. 1981
  • McHone, J. F. Jr., Lambert, P., Dietz, R.S. and Briedj, M., Impact structures in Algeria (abstract). Meteoritics, v. 15, pp. 331–332. 1980
  • Monod, T., Contribution to a list of circular structures of cryptoexplosive meteoric origin (known, possible, or supposed) (in French). Insitiut Francais d'Afrique Noire (I.F.A.N.), Dakar, Catalogues et documents, v. 18, 96 p. 1965


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