--> Abstract: The Serpent Mound Magnetic Anomaly: Fingerprint of a Meteorite Impact?, by D. R. Watts, B. Elsaiti, J. M. Memmi, J. Weaver, and M. B. Baranoski; #90930 (1998).
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Abstract: The Serpent Mound Previous HitMagneticNext Hit Anomaly: Fingerprint of a Meteorite Impact?

WATTS, D. R., B. ELSAITI
Department of Geology and Applied Geology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
JOHN M. MEMMI
Apex Technology, Hershey, PA
JOHN WEAVER
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Columbus, OH
M. B. BARANOSKI
Ohio Division of Geological Survey, Columbus, OH

We report results of a recent ground total field Previous HitmagneticNext Hit survey across the Serpent Mound disturbance. Interpretation of these results suggests the disturbance was caused by a meteorite impact. The survey comprises measurements from approximately 2,000 stations covering an area of about 400 km2. Data editing removed the effects of cultural features such as casings from three abandoned oil wells, fences, and buried cables. We collected data in greenfields as much as possible to avoid this contamination. Global Positioning Satellite stations provided control of locations away from roads. After processing data onto a 500 m2 grid, median filtering attenuated short-wavelength anomalies related to cultural features.

An elongated, closed Previous HitmagneticNext Hit high correlates with the center of the disturbance; an associated low occurs across the eastern margin of the disturbance. This positive Previous HitmagneticNext Hit anomaly is superimposed on a regional NNW-trending Previous HitmagneticNext Hit basement high. In the area of the disturbance, evidence for elevated temperatures or igneous activity is absent within Paleozoic strata. Conversely, gravity, seismic reflection, and petrographic evidence makes a compelling case for a meteorite impact origin of the disturbance. Hence, we propose the cause of the local Previous HitmagneticNext Hit anomaly was the passage of meteorite-impact-induced shock waves through the basement causing remagnetization of a volume of Previous HitmagneticNext Hit rock beneath the disturbance. Previous HitMagneticNext Hit modeling was performed on the Previous HitmagneticNext Hit anomaly, based on an estimated depth to Precambrian basement of 1,300 m from seismic reflection and borehole data. Our model shows that a volume of about 7 km3, given a permanent magnetization of 1 amp/m and superimposed on a regional-scale Previous HitmagneticNext Hit body having susceptibility of 0.025 units, will produce the observed Previous HitmagneticTop anomaly.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90930©1998 AAPG Eastern Section, Columbus, Ohio