About 600 million years ago, a huge meteorite impacted some 300
kilometres west of this location. The impact punched a crater over
30 kilometres wide and several kilometres deep into the crust,
showering billions of tonnes of debris over a large area.
At the time, the place you're standing at was part of the
Adelaide Geosyncline, a body of water stretching approximately from
Kangaroo Island to this location and further to the north. The
debris in this area was preserved and buried by sediments, then
folded and uplifted, and finally eroded over time to resemble what
we know today as the Bunyeroo Formation.
This impact would probably have caused a huge cloud of dust to
encircle the Earth. Needless to say, if such an event were to occur
today, most life on Earth would probably be decimated.
To log this earthcache as a find, you must upload a photo of
yourself with your GPS at this site with your log, and send us an
email answering the following questions:
1. How thick is the layer of rock debris in the Bunyeroo
Formation?
2. This layer contains fragments of volcanic rock from
where?
3. What is the name of the place where the meteorite
impacted?
4. Approximately how deep was the water in the Adelaide
Geosyncline?
You may log your find immediately after sending the email.
In accordance with Earthcache guidelines, failure to send an email
or upload a photo will result in your log being deleted.
Access to the Flinders
Ranges National Park is subject to entry fees. The Geological Trail
is accessible to all types of vehicles; however, the roads can be
very rough in spots and at times there may be some flooding, so
it's a good idea to use a vehicle with good ground
clearance.