description Des Plaines Overview
Des Plaines is a buried meteorite impact crater beneath the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines in Illinois, United States, with a diameter of roughly 5 kilometers. It has no surface expression because younger sediments conceal it, and its presence was established through geophysical surveys later confirmed by drilling into brecciated and shock-deformed rock. The crater is assigned an Ordovician age and is one of several buried impact structures known from the American Midwest.
help Des Plaines FAQ
Where is the Des Plaines crater located?
The Des Plaines crater lies beneath the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines in Illinois, United States. It has no visible surface crater because younger sediments cover it.
How large is the Des Plaines crater?
The buried impact structure is roughly 5 kilometers in diameter. Its size was established through geophysical evidence rather than a visible rim.
Why can people not see the Des Plaines crater?
Younger sediments conceal the original impact structure. The crater therefore has no obvious surface expression like a fresh, exposed impact crater.
How was the Des Plaines crater identified?
Its presence was established through geophysical studies beneath the suburb. Subsurface measurements can reveal the circular structure even when later sediments hide it.
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