Meteor Crater Drill Hole Sample Collection
Meteor Crater, located in northern Arizona, is one of the best preserved and easily accessible impact sites on Earth. Scientific investigations of this crater have led to improvements in our understanding of impact mechanics, cratering dynamics, and ejecta distribution [e.g., 1-5].
Meteor Crater has a rich history as a terrestrial analog that has been used for training astronauts, scientists, and engineers [e.g., 6-8]. In the 1970s Dr. David Roddy conducted a rotary drilling campaign at Meteor Crater, along the rim, flanks, and surrounding ejecta blanket [9]. This work resulted in 2,500 m of drill cuttings from 161 drill holes.
The original samples were placed in sandwich-sized plastic bags with slips of paper that recorded drilling information (depth, hardness, losses) and sample notes [10]. They were stored in core boxes labeled with the drill hole number and footage interval. In 2008, a modern curation process was begun to properly document and store these invaluable samples, following procedures developed with guidance from the USGS Core Research Center. Samples were transferred to 200 mL polyethylene bags and placed in new, more durable storage boxes. All pertinent information from each sample bag was recorded in a digital database. For long-term archival purposes, 5 mL of representative material from each drill hole sample was placed in a separate 20 mL polyethylene bag labeled with the drill hole number and depth. Each archival sample was placed in a protective manila coin envelopes, labeled with drill hole number and depth. The archival sample collection is stored in a separate building from the full sample collection.
The Meteor Crater Sample Collection is stored on the USGS Flagstaff campus. Images and sample data can be accessed electronically through ScienceBase (a USGS trusted data repository), ReSciColl, and SESAR2.
Gaither, T.A., Gullikson, A.L., Hagerty, J.J., Roddy, D.J., and Boyce, J.M., 2023, Meteor Crater, Northern Arizona: Drill Hole Sample Collection, 1970-1973, and Curation, 2010-2013: U.S. Geological Survey data release. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9SWO5OO.
Sample Protocol and Check out Procedure
Meteor Crater Impact Melt Particles
[1] Shoemaker, E. M. (1959) USGS OFR 59-108.
[2] Shoemaker, E. M. (1963) In: Moon, Meteorites, and Comets, v. 4, p. 301-336.
[3] Mittlefehldt, D. W. (2005) GSA Special Paper v. 384, p. 367-390.
[4] Artemieva, N. and Pierazzo, E. (2009) Meteor. and Planet. Sci. v. 44, p. 25-42.
[5] Artemieva, N. and Pierazzo, E. (2011) Meteor. and Planet. Sci. v. 46, p. 805-829.
[6] Schaber, G. G. (2005) USGS OFR 2005-1190, 1161 p.
[7] Kring, D. A. (2007) Lunar and Planetary Inst. 150 p.
[8] Evans, C. A., et at. (2020) AGU Fall meeting, abstract #P063-01.
[9] Roddy, D. J., et al. (1975) Proc. Lunar Sci. Conf. 6th, p. 2621-2644.
[10] Hagerty, J. J. et al. (2010) Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract #2213.