Cryptoexplosion

The term cryptoexplosion structure (or cryptovolcanic structure) means an explosion of unknown cause. The term is now largely obsolete. It was once commonly used to describe sites where there was geological evidence of a large scale explosion within the Earth's crust, but no definitive evidence for the cause such as normal volcanic rocks. These sites are usually circular with signs of anomalous rock deformation contrasting with the surrounding region, and often showing evidence that crustal material had been uplifted and/or blown outwards. The assumption was that some unusual form of volcanism, or a gas explosion originating within the crust, was the cause. The use of the term went away with the rise of the science of impact crater recognition in the late 20th Century. Most structures described as cryptoexplosions turned out to be eroded impact craters, caused by the impact of meteorites. Today geologists discount former cryptoexplosion theories.^[1]

References

1. ^ French, Bevan M (1998) (PDF). Traces of Catastrophe: A Handbook of Shock-Metamorphic Effects in Terrestrial Meteorite Impact Structures. LPI Contribution No. 954. Houston: Lunar and Planetary Institute. pp. 120. Bibcode 1998trca.book.....F. OCLC 40770730. ASIN B0006R1XF8. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/books/CB-954/CB-954.intro.html. Retrieved 2011-09-02. 

See also

• Impact crater
• Impact structure
• Astrobleme
• Impact event
• Traces of Catastrophe