Flynn Creek Crater Sample Collection

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Our goal is to facilitate scientific research on marine target impact crater formation, mineral shock metamorphism, impact melting of sedimentary targets, and impact-induced hydrothermal systems. Impact-induced hydrothermal systems are of considerable scientific interest because they may have played a significant role in the origin and evolution of life on early Earth and produced temporary near-surface habitable environments on Mars.

Between 1967 and 1979, USGS scientist Dr. David Roddy conducted a drilling program at Flynn Creek crater. The drilling program produced more than 3.8 km of nearly continuous core from 18 separate drill holes. These samples are now contained in 2,261 standard core storage boxes at the USGS in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Geologic studies of these drill cores in the 1960’s and 1970’s laid the groundwork for understanding structural deformation during marine target impact crater formation. Recent advances in numerical modeling and analytical techniques for terrestrial impact crater analog studies have provided unprecedented details on the formation of complex impact crater morphology, impact-induced hydrothermal systems, impact melting of sedimentary targets, and mineral shock metamorphism.

Given the modern financial and logistical difficulties inherent in conducting thorough drilling campaigns at marine target impact craters, and the importance of this unique geologic collection to investigations of terrestrial impact craters as planetary analogs, USGS Astrogeology curates this sample collection and manages sample requests from the planetary science community. Clink on the links to the right for more information.

For sample requests or further information, please contact Tenielle Gaither (tgaither@usgs.gov, 928-556-7387).

1967 Drill Cores

• Drill Core 01
• Drill Core 02
• Drill Core 03
• Drill Core 04
• Drill Core 05
• Drill Core 06

1977 Drill Cores

• Drill Core 01
• Drill Core 02
• Drill Core 03

1978 Drill Cores

• Drill Core 07

1979 Drill Cores

• Drill Core 09
• Drill Core 10
• Drill Core 11
• Drill Core 12
• Drill Core 13
• Drill Core 14
• Drill Core 15
• Drill Core 16
• Drill Core 17
• Drill Core 18

USGS Astrogeology Research Publications Using the Flynn Creek Crater Drill Core Collection

Roddy, D. J. (1963) Flynn Creek structure, Tennessee. Astrogeologic Studies Annual Progress Report,

pp. 118-126.

Roddy, D. J. (1964) Geologic section across the Flynn Creek

structure. Astrogeologic Studies Annual

Progress Report, pp. 53-76.

Roddy, D. J. (1964) Recent investigations of the Flynn

Creek structure, with a section on geophysical studies by Shawn Biehler and

D.J. Roddy. Astrogeologic Studies, Annual

Progress Report, pt. B, pp. 163-180.

Roddy, D. J. (1966) The

Paleozoic crater at Flynn Creek, Tennessee. PhD thesis, California

Institute of Technology.

Roddy, D. J. (1966) An unusual dolomitic basal facies of

the Chattanooga shale in the Flynn Creek structure (abstract). American Mineralogist, v. 51, p. 270.

Roddy,

D. J. (1968a) Comet impact and formation of Flynn Creek and other craters with

central peaks (abstract). EOS, v. 49,

p. 272.

Roddy,

D. J. (1968b) Paleozoic crater at Flynn Creek - a possible impact structure

(abstract). Geological Society of America

Special Paper 101, p. 179.

Roddy,

D. J. (1968c) Shock metamorphism in carbonate rocks at probable impact

structures (abstract). Geological Society

of America, Cordilleran Section, 64th Annual Meeting, Tuscon, Arizona, p.

103.

Roddy,

D. J. (1968d) The Flynn Creek crater, Tennessee. French, B.M. and Short, N.M.,

eds., Shock Metamorphism of Natural

Materials, Mono Book Corp., Baltimore, MD, pp. 291-322.

Roddy,

D. J. (1976) The Flynn Creek crater: Structural deformation and cratering

processes. Paper presented to the Symposium

on Planetary Cratering Mechanics(Lunar Science Institute Topical

Conference), pp. 121-123.

Roddy,

D. J. (1977a) Tabular comparisons of the Flynn Creek impact crater, United

States, Steinheim impact crater, Germany, and Snowball explosion crater,

Canada. Roddy, D.J., Pepin, R.A. and Merrill, R.B., eds., Impact and Explosion Cratering, Pergamon Press, New York, pp.

125-161. 

Roddy,

D. J. (1977b) Pre-impact conditions and cratering processes at the Flynn Creek

crater, Tennessee. Roddy, D.J., Pepin, R.O. and Merrill, R.B., eds., Impact and Explosion Cratering, Pergamon

Press, New York, pp. 277-308.

Roddy,

D. J. (1979a) Structural deformation at the Flynn Creek impact crater,

Tennessee: A preliminary report on deep drilling. Proceedings Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 10th, pp.

2519-2534.

Roddy,

D. J. (1979b) Current drilling and structural studies at the Flynn Creek impact

crater, Tennessee (abstract). 10th Lunar

and Planetary Science Conference, abstract #1361.

Roddy,

D. J. (1980a) Completion of a deep drilling program at the Flynn Creek impact

crater, Tennessee (abstract). 11th Lunar

and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1335.

Hagerty,

J. J., Gaither, T. A., McHone, J. F., and Abramov, O. (2013) The USGS Flynn

Creek Crater Drill Core Collection, 4^th

Annual Planetary Crater Consortium, Abstract #1304.

Hagerty,

J. J., McHone, J. F., and Gaither, T. A. (2013) The Flynn Creek Crater Drill

Core Collection at the USGS in Flagstaff, Arizona, 44^thLunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract

#2122. 

Roddy, D. J. (1963) Flynn Creek structure, Tennessee. Astrogeologic Studies Annual Progress Report, pp. 118-126.

Roddy, D. J. (1964) Geologic section across the Flynn Creek Structure. Astrogeologic Studies Annual Progress Report, pp. 53-76.

Roddy, D. J. (1964) Recent investigations of the Flynn Creek structure, with a section on geophysical studies by Shawn Biehler and D.J. Roddy. Astrogeologic Studies, Annual Progress Report, pt. B, pp. 163-180.

Roddy, D. J. (1966) The Paleozoic crater at Flynn Creek, Tennessee. PhD thesis, California Institute of Technology.

Roddy, D. J. (1966) An unusual dolomitic basal facies ofthe Chattanooga shale in the Flynn Creek structure (abstract). American Mineralogist, v. 51, p. 270.

Roddy, D. J. (1968a) Comet impact and formation of Flynn Creek and other craters with central peaks (abstract). EOS, v. 49, p. 272.

Roddy, D. J. (1968b) Paleozoic crater at Flynn Creek - a possible impact structure(abstract). Geological Society of America Special Paper 101, p. 179.

Roddy, D. J. (1968c) Shock metamorphism in carbonate rocks at probable impactstructures (abstract). Geological Societyof America, Cordilleran Section, 64th Annual Meeting, Tuscon, Arizona, p.103.

Roddy, D. J. (1968d) The Flynn Creek crater, Tennessee. French, B.M. and Short, N.M.,eds., Shock Metamorphism of Natural Materials, Mono Book Corp., Baltimore, MD, pp. 291-322.

Roddy, D. J. (1976) The Flynn Creek crater: Structural deformation and cratering processes. Paper presented to the Symposiumon Planetary Cratering Mechanics (Lunar Science Institute Topical Conference), pp. 121-123.

Roddy, D. J. (1977a) Tabular comparisons of the Flynn Creek impact crater, United States, Steinheim impact crater, Germany, and Snowball explosion crater, Canada. Roddy, D.J., Pepin, R.A. and Merrill, R.B., eds., Impact and Explosion Cratering, Pergamon Press, New York, pp. 125-161. 

Roddy, D. J. (1977b) Pre-impact conditions and cratering processes at the Flynn Creek crater, Tennessee. Roddy, D.J., Pepin, R.O. and Merrill, R.B., eds., Impact and Explosion Cratering, Pergamon Press, New York, pp. 277-308.

Roddy, D. J. (1979a) Structural deformation at the Flynn Creek impact crater, Tennessee: A preliminary report on deep drilling. Proceedings Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 10th, pp . 2519-2534.

Roddy, D. J. (1979b) Current drilling and structural studies at the Flynn Creek impact crater, Tennessee (abstract). 10th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1361.

Roddy, D. J. (1980a) Completion of a deep drilling program at the Flynn Creek impact crater, Tennessee (abstract). 11th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1335.

Hagerty, J. J., Gaither, T. A., McHone, J. F., and Abramov, O. (2013) The USGS Flynn Creek Crater Drill Core Collection, 4^thAnnual Planetary Crater Consortium, Abstract #1304.

Hagerty, J. J., McHone, J. F., and Gaither, T. A. (2013) The Flynn Creek Crater Drill Core Collection at the USGS in Flagstaff, Arizona, 44^th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2122. 

Selected References on the Flynn Creek Impact Structure

Adrian, D. R., King Jr., D. T., Jaret, S. J., Ormö, Petruny, L. W., Hagerty, J. J., and Gaither, T. A. (2017) Sedimentological and petrographic analysis of drill core FC77-1 from the flank of the central uplift, Flynn Creek impact structure, Tennessee. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, doi: 10.1111/maps.12862

Evenick, J. C., Lee, P., and Deane, B. (2004), Flynn Creek impact structure: new insights from melt breccias, melt features, shatter cones, and remote sensing. Lunar Planet. Sci., XXXV, abstract #1131.

Evenick, Jonathan C. (2006) Field Guide to the Flynn Creek Impact Structure. Knoxville: University of Tennessee. 22 pg.

Milam, K. A. and Deane, B. (2007) The search for a meteoritic component in impactites from the Flynn Creek impact crater. Lun. Planet. Sci. XXXVIII, abstract #2320.

Schieber, J., Roddy, D., (2000) The Flynn Creek Crater in Tennessee: Learning from crater sedimentation about timing and impact condition, 2000 GSA Annual Meeting - Reno, Nevada. Abs. No. 50148.

Wilson, C. W., Jr. and Roddy, D. J., (1990), Geologic map and mineral resources summary of the Gainesboro quadrangle, Tennessee: Tennessee Division of Geology, GM 325-SW, Scale 1:24,000.