METEOR CRATERS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

METEOR CRATERS

THE SIBERIAN MONSTER

(By

Rev. B. Dudley, F.R.A.S.)

An article published last week on the exceptional meteor crater at Arizona has provoked the question on the part of some readers' of this column as to whether there are not- other “unique” instances of this kind. The following is an account of some, observations in the Island of Oesel, E-s--thonia, and in Siberia, Concerning the phenomenon at Oesel, there is a measure of doubt on the question. That is to say, it is not certain that the remarkable depression suspected to- have been caused by the fall of an exceptionally large meteorite at a remote date in the- past was thus •made. Its crater-like hollow has been the subject of careful attention on the part of scientists connected with the Dorpat University, The diameter of the cup, which is roughly circular in shape, is about 300 feet, and it is surrounded by a rim or wall 20 feet in height. In endeavouring to solve the mystery of its origin there is to be considered the possibility of its being due to sinking; but none whatever, according to experts, to volcanic action. This theory has in its favour the fact -that beneath the successive layers of black earth, clay and sand, which lie under the spot, there is to be found dolomite, a rock which is ' soluble in ground water.. This might under given conditions cause sinking on the part of whatever might lie above it. Thus the sink-hole theory, as it is called, has had to be thought of seriously. Against this, however, is. the fact that the depression is enclosed within the high wall already referred to. The rocks forming the wall, too, are so up-tilted as strongly to suggest meteoritic origin.

With regard to the Great -Siberian crater, there can be no doubt whatsoever. Authentic reports have -been supplied’of the work of expeditionary parties that have been sent out by the Academy of Sciences in Russia, whose official statement has been published. The actual fall of the giant meteorite took place on June 30, 1928; but owing to the generally disturbed state of the country for the past quarter of a century, few have heard of it, even though Professor L. A. Kulik, representing the Expedition, published a note on its findings as far back as 19'21. A party sent out under the leadership of the Professor arrived in the district in March, 1927, their base of operations being at Vanovara, situated some-'distance to the southeast of the district in which they were particularly interested. It appears that the area is exceptionally rough, being hilly, swampy and covered with tundra, and thus extremely hard to negotiate. The equipment of the party seems to have been inadequate, which fact, added to . the almost impenetrable character of the district, lias caused delay in carrying out successful operations, The location of the spot itself (some 409 miles north of the TransSiberian Railway) the sparsity of the population, and the great distance from any centre of population, have not helped the expedition. They succeeded eventually, however, in; reaching the actual place where the meteorite fell, and found it had produced results of a kind that can only be described as astonishing in the highest degree. ■ As one result of the mighty -impact, the trees for many miles around the central part of the affected area are stripped bare of branch and bark, and » lie on the ground with their tops turned away from it, only a few remaining here and there, although the. entire, valley was formerly covered by woods. A few trees only are still , living in the midst of the general desolation caused by the celestial bolt. Everything has been scorched immediately around the centre of the spot, some traces of this being apparent as far as ten miles away. Surrounding the centre are innumerable craterlets or “shell-holes" which vary in size from fifty down. to a single yard in diameter. These all bear indications of meteoritic origin, and suggest the same for the entire phenomenon. Had the scientists been sufficiently set up with the wherewithal for carrying out, such a big undertaking, they might have made some interesting discoveries, notwithstanding the tremendous quantities of water present everywhere, and other obstructions. The following account of what happened is remarkable enough to quote at length.' Professor Kulik satisfied himself as to its authenticity, and states that it was supplied by a- peasant resident on the spot at. the time. ‘'During early morning,” lie states, “I had been sitting on the porch with my face to the north, and at this moment in the northwest direction appeared a kind of fire which produced such a heat that I could not stand ' it. And this overheated miracle I guess had a size of at least a, mile. But the fire did not last long. I had only time to lift up my eyes and it disappeared. Then..- it became dark, and then followed an explosion which threw me down from the porch about six feet or more.' But I heard a sound as if all houses were trembling and moving away. Many windows were broken, a large strip of ground was torn away, and at the warehouse the iron bolt was broken.” Other testimony from first hand information was to the effect that herd owners lost by the fire associated with the fall large numbers of cattle. In some instances not even the least traces of their carcases wore found. Store-houses were ruined, everything being burned or melted save a few buckets. The expeditionary party were forced to the conclusion that an event of the most extraordinary kind must have happened to -cause the. results apparent everywhere. The impact was evidently so terrific as ..to bury the mass or masses that -struck the earth at this -point to a .vary great depth..It is unlikely that the celestial mass that bombarded the earth at this point was as large as that at Arizona; but It must have been a missive of enormous . .'.tiring. of. -the ;kind ,ma4ern,.dimes....