Geophysical signature of the Tunnunik impact structure, Northwest Territories, Canada

• Published in: Meteoritics & Planetary Science
• Main Authors: Quesnel, Yoann, Zylberman, W., Rochette, P., Uehara, Minoru, Gattacceca, Jérôme, Osinski, G, R, Dussouillez, P., Lepaulard, C., Champollion, C.
• Other Authors: Centre européen de recherche et d'enseignement des géosciences de l'environnement (CEREGE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Collège de France (CdF (institution))-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Collège de France (CdF (institution))-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Western Ontario (UWO), Géosciences Montpellier, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université des Antilles (UA), IPEV1139French National Research Agency (ANR)ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02MITACSCampus FranceProgramme National de Planetologie (PNP) of INSU-CNRSCentre National D'etudes SpatialesCNRS Projet International de Cooperation Scientifique (PICS)263407 - GEOCRATNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)CGIAR
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2020
• Subjects: [SDU.STU.GP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Geophysics [physics.geo-ph]; Canada; Northwest Territories
• Online Access: https://insu.hal.science/insu-02484453; https://insu.hal.science/insu-02484453v2/document; https://insu.hal.science/insu-02484453v2/file/Quesnel_et_al_Tunnunik_MAPS_withFigures_accepted.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.13447

International audience In 2011, the discovery of shatter cones confirmed the 28 km-diameter Tunnunik complex impact structure, Northwest Territories, Canada. This study presents the first results of ground-based electromagnetic, gravimetric and magnetic surveys over this impact structure. Its central area ischaracterized by a ~10 km wide negative gravity anomaly of about 3 mGal amplitude, roughly corresponding to the area of shatter cones, and associated with a positive magnetic field anomaly of ~120 nT amplitude and 3 km wavelength. The latter correlates well with the location of thedeepest uplifted strata, an impact-tilted Proterozoic dolomite layer of the Shaler Supergroup exposed near the center of the structure and intruded by dolerite dykes. Locally, electromagnetic field data unveil a conductive superficial formation which corresponds to an 80-100 m thick sandlayer covering the impact structure. Based on measurements of magnetic properties of rock samples, we model the source of the magnetic anomaly as the magnetic sediments of the Shaler Supergroup combined with a core of uplifted crystalline basement with enhanced magnetization. More classically, the low gravity signature is attributed to a reduction in density measured on the brecciated target rocks and to the isolated sand formations. However, the present-day fractured zone does not extend deeper than ~1 km in our model, indicating a possible 1.5 km of erosionsince the time of impact, about 430 Ma ago.