TY - JOUR

T1 - Comprehensive Geophysical Study at Wabar Crater, Rub Al-Khali Desert, Saudi Arabia

AU - Hanafy, Sherif M.

AU - Soupios, Pantelis

AU - Stampolidis, Alexandros

AU - Koch, Christian Bender

AU - Al-Ramadan, Khalid

AU - Al-Shuhail, Abdullatif

AU - Solling, Theis

AU - Argadestya, Ignatius

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Dr. Abdulaziz Obaid Al-Kaabi for organizing and leading both expeditions. A special thanks to Mr. Geraiyan M. Al-Hajri, our guide in both expeditions, for guiding us safely between the sand dunes of the Empty Quarter. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors.

PY - 2021/9

Y1 - 2021/9

N2 - Interest in impact craters on the earth's surface has increased worldwide and is being investigated by using remote sensing, geological, boreholes, geophysical, and laboratory measurements. These measurements are used to build dynamic models to study crater formation. In this work, the near-crater sediments at the young Wabar crater field in Saudi Arabia have been investigated using magnetic, transient electromagnetic (TEM), seismic, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods. The main objectives of this research were to (a) explore the possibility of any remnant major pieces of the meteorite, (b) investigate the meteoroid direction, and (c) map the deformational structures associated with the meteorite impact. Our results show five different magnetic anomaly types and three layers in the subsurface. The maximum depth of deformation due to the impact of the meteorite is about 25 m as shown by the seismic travel time tomogram, the quasi-2D TEM, and the 3D GPR model. TEM survey confirmed the geometrical characteristics of the major crater and located another small crater (known as Philby-A). The magnetic survey shows no evidence of any remnant major pieces of the meteorite; however, it was used to trace ejecta material containing highly dilute magnetic material. The magnetic carrier is most likely spheres of metal incorporated in the black/green glasses. During the expedition, many small pieces of the meteoroid were found and collected for further geochemical analysis. Based on the geophysical findings, the meteorite direction was found to be from north to south.

AB - Interest in impact craters on the earth's surface has increased worldwide and is being investigated by using remote sensing, geological, boreholes, geophysical, and laboratory measurements. These measurements are used to build dynamic models to study crater formation. In this work, the near-crater sediments at the young Wabar crater field in Saudi Arabia have been investigated using magnetic, transient electromagnetic (TEM), seismic, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods. The main objectives of this research were to (a) explore the possibility of any remnant major pieces of the meteorite, (b) investigate the meteoroid direction, and (c) map the deformational structures associated with the meteorite impact. Our results show five different magnetic anomaly types and three layers in the subsurface. The maximum depth of deformation due to the impact of the meteorite is about 25 m as shown by the seismic travel time tomogram, the quasi-2D TEM, and the 3D GPR model. TEM survey confirmed the geometrical characteristics of the major crater and located another small crater (known as Philby-A). The magnetic survey shows no evidence of any remnant major pieces of the meteorite; however, it was used to trace ejecta material containing highly dilute magnetic material. The magnetic carrier is most likely spheres of metal incorporated in the black/green glasses. During the expedition, many small pieces of the meteoroid were found and collected for further geochemical analysis. Based on the geophysical findings, the meteorite direction was found to be from north to south.

KW - GPR

KW - magnetic

KW - seismic

KW - TEM

U2 - 10.1029/2020EA001432

DO - 10.1029/2020EA001432

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85115696630

VL - 8

JO - Earth and Space Science

JF - Earth and Space Science

SN - 2333-5084

IS - 9

M1 - e2020EA001432

ER -