Formation of the crater
When 15 million years ago a stone meteorite of nearly one kilometer in diameter impacted the Alb Plateau the immense heat that was generated at the moment of the impact evaporated the meteorite itself. Rocks near the point of impact melted, and those at a distance broke to pieces and were tossed up. Thus the crater expanded to a diameter of 25 km.
Besides, a totally new rock type was formed during
the impact. It consists of a mixture of small lumps of molten rock and shattered crystalline basement rock - its called Suevite.
Besides, a totally new rock type was formed during
the impact. It consists of a mixture of small lumps of molten rock and shattered crystalline basement rock - its called Suevite.
Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt, 2004
Phases of the formation
Phase 1: 35 milliseconds before the impact
Phase 2: 10 milliseconds after the impact
Phase 3: Formation of the crater after 60 milliseconds
Phase 4: Formation of a deep crater after 10 seconds
Phase 5: Collapse of the crater and deposit of the ejected material after 1 minute
Phase 6: End of the formation of the crater and deposit of the Suevit after 10 minutes
Reference: D. Stöffler, W.-U. Reimold, T. Kerkmann, K. Wünnemann, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin
The impact of the meteorite destroyed all life within a radius of about 100 km, but shortly afterwards a lake was formed in the crater, whose shores were quickly colonized by plants and animals. Over a period of two million years the crater filled with clay, sand and gravel. The lake disappeared and its impact structure was obscured.
Today a lot of fossils can be found in this region.
Today a lot of fossils can be found in this region.
https://outdoorkid.de/steine-klopfen-fossilien/
Reference: The city of Nördlingen, Christopher Hilke, Dr. Helen Kearns and Rieskrater-Museum