A gravity and magnetic study of the Crooked Creek cryptoexplosion structure, Crawford County, Missouri

Author

Charles Edward Woodbury

Abstract

"The pre-Pennsylvanian structure at Crooked Creek consists of a complex, vertically faulted ring of Cambrian and Ordovician sediments with a central uplifted core. The center of the structure is strongly deformed and contains shatter cones, brecciation, and other signs of extreme shock.

A magnetic low over the center of the structure suggests that igneous material was not involved in the formation of the structure, and this is corroborated by core analysis. Gravity data indicates several small gravity lows, possibly associated with areas of brecciation, circling the flanks of the structure. As in the magnetic data, there is no indication that the feature extends to depth.

The lack of a corresponding magnetic anomaly rules out a volcanic origin for the structure. The limited erosion of the area, the statistical orientation of the shatter cones, and the lack of deformation at depth, point to an explosive source near the original surface of the region. The only known way for a shock intensive explosion to occur near the surface without involving basement material is from the impact of a meteorite or comet"--Abstract, page ii.

Advisor(s)

Corry, Charles E.

Committee Member(s)

Rupert, Gerald B., 1930-2016
Elifrits, C. Dale

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Geology and Geophysics

Comments

Seven plates are included in the pdf and also provided as supplemental files for greater detail.

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Spring 1987

Pagination

ix, 79 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 76-78).

Geographic Coverage

Crawford County, Missouri

Time Period

Pennsylvanian; pre-Pennsylvanian

Rights

© 1987 Charles Edward Woodbury, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 5508

Print OCLC #

16769538

Recommended Citation

Woodbury, Charles Edward, "A gravity and magnetic study of the Crooked Creek cryptoexplosion structure, Crawford County, Missouri" (1987). Masters Theses. 4307.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/4307