Link Between Meteor Crater and Grand Canyon Revealed by New Study

A groundbreaking study has unveiled a surprising connection between two of Arizona's most iconic landmarks, Meteor Crater and the Grand Canyon, suggesting that a cosmic event may have shaped their geological history. The research indicates that the asteroid responsible for creating Meteor Crater approximately 56,000 years ago may have also led to the formation of an ancient lake in the Grand Canyon, specifically in what is now Nankoweap Canyon.

The findings, published in the journal *Geology* by an international team of researchers, highlight the catastrophic impact of a 300,000-ton nickel-iron asteroid that struck the Colorado Plateau with the explosive force equivalent to over 150 atomic bombs. This impact generated a magnitude 5.4 earthquake that potentially caused a massive landslide, damming the Colorado River and temporarily creating a paleolake stretching 80 kilometers (50 miles) long and over 100 meters (approximately 370 feet) deep.

According to Dr. Karl Karlstrom, a geologist at the University of New Mexico and co-lead author of the study, the evidence rests on the analysis of driftwood and sediment samples found in Stanton's Cave. "The driftwood found 44 meters above the Colorado River indicates that a flood event of unprecedented magnitude occurred, requiring a flood level at least ten times greater than any observed in recent history," Karlstrom stated.

Initial driftwood samples collected in 1970 were radiocarbon dated to about 44,000 years old, leading researchers to further investigate and utilize enhanced dating techniques. The newer methods, including luminescence dating, yielded statistically consistent results, indicating that both the driftwood and the lake sediments date back to approximately 55,600 years ago.

The study aligns the timelines of the asteroid impact, earthquake, landslide, and subsequent sediment deposits, presenting a coherent narrative of how a single cosmic event can have far-reaching geological consequences. The researchers also discovered evidence of a natural dam located 35 kilometers downstream from Stanton's Cave, with sedimentary layers indicating that the Colorado River had overtopped this dam for about a millennium.

Despite the compelling evidence, the researchers acknowledge alternative explanations, such as the possibility of a natural landslide or an unrelated earthquake contributing to the lake's formation. Nonetheless, Karlstrom emphasizes that the convergence of these geological phenomena within a narrow time frame remains a significant point of interest in understanding the area's geological past.

This study underscores the interconnectedness of geological events and their lasting impact on the landscape, contributing to our understanding of how cosmic events can shape Earth's physical features. As such, it opens avenues for further research into the effects of asteroid impacts on Earth's geological history and the implications for similar events in the future.