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Crustal structure of the Chicxulub Impact crater imaged with magnetotelluric exploration
Author(s) -
Unsworth Martyn,
Enriquez Oscar Campos,
Belmonte Salvador,
Arzate Jorge,
Bedrosian Paul
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2002gl014998
Subject(s) - impact crater , geology , magnetotellurics , electrical resistivity and conductivity , sedimentary rock , crust , impact structure , porosity , geophysics , hydrothermal circulation , petrology , mineralogy , seismology , geochemistry , geotechnical engineering , astrobiology , physics , engineering , electrical engineering
The electrical resistivity structure of the Chicxulub Impact crater has been imaged using broadband magnetotelluric exploration. A 1–2 km thick sequence of conductive Tertiary sedimentary rocks was imaged within the crater. The shallow resistivity of this layer increases across the cenote ring. This is primarily due to a decrease in porosity, although the groundwater composition may have some effect. While this layer reduces the sensitivity of MT, several features can be discerned beneath it. In the center of the crater the structural high is imaged as a region of high resistivity. In the outer part of the crater, lower resistivities in the upper crust may be due to mineralization or hydrothermal alteration.