Where is Meteor Crater located in Arizona?
The crater sits in the high desert of northern Arizona, about 35 miles east of Flagstaff and 40 miles west of Winslow. It measures roughly 1,200 meters across and reaches a depth of 170 meters.
Questions about Meteor Crater
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who discovered that Meteor Crater was formed by an impact instead of volcanic activity?
Eugene Shoemaker identified coesite and stishovite within the crater during investigations in the 1960s to prove the impact origin. Edward C.T. Chao and Shoemaker confirmed these findings in 1960, showing that shocked quartz could not be created by volcanic action or lightning alone.
When did Daniel M. Barringer die after drilling for the meteorite at Meteor Crater?
Daniel M. Barringer died in 1929 after spending $500,000 of his fortune over twenty-seven years searching for the deposit. No significant ore body was ever found before his death despite drilling holes deeper than any previous attempt.
Why does Meteor Crater have a squared-off outline instead of being circular?
A rim rises 48 meters above the surrounding plains creating a squared-off outline that defies the circular shapes expected from such an explosion. This shape results from existing cracks in the rock layers at the impact site.
How many visitors travel to Meteor Crater each year today?
Roughly 270,000 visitors travel to the site each year to view the crater. It is owned by the Barringer family through their Barringer Crater Company which maintains a Visitor Center on the north rim.