1. The Crater Itself:
* Peak Ring: A central uplift formed by the rebound of the impact target rocks. It's a circular mountain range rising about 1.5 kilometers above the crater floor.
* Crater Rim: The outer edge of the crater, marked by a ring of uplifted and fractured rock. It's about 180 kilometers in diameter.
* Central Depression: A flat area within the peak ring, thought to be formed by the collapse of the crater's central region.
* Impact Breccia: A chaotic mixture of broken and melted rocks from the impact. It's found around the crater rim and within the central depression.
2. Beneath the Surface:
* Impact Melt Sheet: A layer of molten rock created by the intense heat of the impact. This sheet, about 1 kilometer thick, lies beneath the impact breccia.
* Shocked Quartz: Tiny crystals of quartz found in the surrounding rocks, showing evidence of the extreme pressure of the impact.
* Tektites: Tiny, glassy objects formed from melted rock ejected during the impact. Found in the region around the crater.
3. Long-Term Effects:
* Gravity Anomaly: The crater's massive size creates a measurable gravitational pull, which can be detected by satellites.
* Faulting and Folding: The impact created numerous faults and folds in the surrounding rocks.
* Seismic Activity: Some seismic activity might be caused by the continued settling of the crater's structure.
4. Hidden Structures:
* Subsurface Ring Structure: Recent studies suggest the presence of a deeper ring structure beneath the visible peak ring, extending down several kilometers.
* Deep-seated Impact Melts: The impact created massive amounts of melt that likely spread far beyond the crater itself.
The Chicxulub crater provides a valuable window into the impact process, revealing the immense power of these celestial events and their lasting impact on Earth's geological history.
