Hickman Crater, Newman, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Hickman Crater | Crater |
| Newman | - not defined - |
| East Pilbara Shire | Shire |
| Western Australia | State |
| Australia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
23° 2' 13'' South , 119° 40' 59'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Newman | 5,138 (2012) | 35.9km |
In 2007, Arthur Hickman was looking at Google Earth during a Geological Survey of Western Australia mapping programme, when he noticed a strange structure in the landscape, 35 kilometres north north-east of Newman in the Ophthalmia Range. This turned out to be the 28th confirmed meteorite impact crater discovered in Australia. (184 worldwide).
A 2012 government scientific drilling project in the centre of the crater confirmed in 2017 the impact of an iron-nickel meteorite.
The crater is 260 metres in diameter, 30 metres deep, almost perfectly circular, with 80% of the rim well preserved. "It is thought to be between 10,000 and 100,000 years old. New research suggests it may be around 50,000 years." (Wikipedia). "It is estimated that the meteorite was between 10 and 15 metres (33 and 49 ft) in diameter when it impacted the ground." (Wikipedia)
A GSWA and Atlas Iron (mining company who controls the local iron ore tenements) team, drilled into the floor of the pit, finding elevated levels of nickel, copper, gold and platinum group elements, suggesting an iron meteorite strike.
Further fracturing and shattering of rhyolite and banded iron formation; slickensides on blocks of rhyolite; radiating and plumose fractures; cryptocrystalline goethite veins with margins of altered rhyolite; and microfractures in quartz phenocrysts, all point to an impact structure.
The Woongarra Rhyolite is a regionally extensive (37 500 square kilometres) giant lavalike felsic sheet, averaging 400 metres thick. The upper section is porphyritic and dark grey, with surface weathering colouring the rock cream to buff to pinkish brown.
Argon dating of the melt glass suggests an age of approximately 50 000 years since impact. Fragments of nickel iron alloy meteorite were later also found. Ejecta is most pronounced to the south-west, indicating a meteorite about 10 metres in diameter hit the ground from the north-east.
A permit is first required to travel the road bordering the BHP Billiton railway line, which can be obtained from the Newman Visitor Centre. Leave this road to the Poonda Rock Art site, and just before this take the track south-east then west. The track is very rough. Tours to the site also operate from Newman.
A 2012 government scientific drilling project in the centre of the crater confirmed in 2017 the impact of an iron-nickel meteorite.
The crater is 260 metres in diameter, 30 metres deep, almost perfectly circular, with 80% of the rim well preserved. "It is thought to be between 10,000 and 100,000 years old. New research suggests it may be around 50,000 years." (Wikipedia). "It is estimated that the meteorite was between 10 and 15 metres (33 and 49 ft) in diameter when it impacted the ground." (Wikipedia)
A GSWA and Atlas Iron (mining company who controls the local iron ore tenements) team, drilled into the floor of the pit, finding elevated levels of nickel, copper, gold and platinum group elements, suggesting an iron meteorite strike.
Further fracturing and shattering of rhyolite and banded iron formation; slickensides on blocks of rhyolite; radiating and plumose fractures; cryptocrystalline goethite veins with margins of altered rhyolite; and microfractures in quartz phenocrysts, all point to an impact structure.
The Woongarra Rhyolite is a regionally extensive (37 500 square kilometres) giant lavalike felsic sheet, averaging 400 metres thick. The upper section is porphyritic and dark grey, with surface weathering colouring the rock cream to buff to pinkish brown.
Argon dating of the melt glass suggests an age of approximately 50 000 years since impact. Fragments of nickel iron alloy meteorite were later also found. Ejecta is most pronounced to the south-west, indicating a meteorite about 10 metres in diameter hit the ground from the north-east.
A permit is first required to travel the road bordering the BHP Billiton railway line, which can be obtained from the Newman Visitor Centre. Leave this road to the Poonda Rock Art site, and just before this take the track south-east then west. The track is very rough. Tours to the site also operate from Newman.
List of minerals for each chemical element
Other Databases
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickman_crater |
|---|---|
| Wikidata ID: | Q1531317 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- Western Australia
- Fortescue BasinBasin
- Hamersley BasinBasin
- Pilbara CratonCraton
- Warakurna Large Igneous ProvinceGeologic Province
- West Australian ElementCraton
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- West Australian Craton
- Pilbara CratonCraton
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