List of impact structures in South America (original) (raw)

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World map in equirectangular projection of the impact structures on the Earth Impact Database as of November 2017 (in the SVG file, hover over a structure to show its details)

This list includes all 11 confirmed impact structures in South America as listed in the Earth Impact Database. These features were caused by the collision of large meteorites or comets with the Earth. For eroded or buried craters, the stated diameter typically refers to an estimate of original rim diameter, and may not correspond to present surface features.

Confirmed impact structures

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Name Location Diameter Age (years) Coordinates
Araguainha Brazil 40 km 244.40 ± 3.25 million 16°47′S 52°59′W / 16.783°S 52.983°W / -16.783; -52.983 (Araguainha)
Campo del Cielo Argentina 0.05 km < 4000 27°38′S 61°42′W / 27.633°S 61.700°W / -27.633; -61.700 (Campo del Cielo)
Carancas Peru 0.0135 km 10 16°40′S 69°03′W / 16.667°S 69.050°W / -16.667; -69.050 (Carancas)
Colônia Brazil 3.6 km >5 million, <36 million 23°52′S 46°42′W / 23.867°S 46.700°W / -23.867; -46.700 (Colônia crater)
Monturaqui Chile 0.46 km < 1 million 23°56′S 68°16′W / 23.933°S 68.267°W / -23.933; -68.267 (Monturaqui)
Riachão Ring Brazil 4.5 km < 200 million 7°43′S 46°39′W / 7.717°S 46.650°W / -7.717; -46.650 (Riachao Ring)
Rio Cuarto Argentina 4.5 km (largest of 10) < 100,000 32°53′S 64°14′W / 32.883°S 64.233°W / -32.883; -64.233 (Rio Cuarto)
Santa Marta Brazil 10 km 66 million - 100 million 10°10′S 45°15′W / 10.167°S 45.250°W / -10.167; -45.250 (Santa Marta)
Serra da Cangalha Brazil 12 km < 300 million 8°5′S 46°52′W / 8.083°S 46.867°W / -8.083; -46.867 (Serra da Cangalha)
Vargeão Dome Brazil 12 km < 70 million 26°50′S 52°7′W / 26.833°S 52.117°W / -26.833; -52.117 (Vargeao Dome)
Vista Alegre Brazil 9.5 km < 65 million 25°57′S 52°41′W / 25.950°S 52.683°W / -25.950; -52.683 (Vista Alegre)

Unconfirmed impact structures

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The following structures are officially considered "unconfirmed" because they are not listed in the Earth Impact Database. Due to stringent requirements regarding evidence and peer-reviewed publication, newly discovered craters or those with difficulty collecting evidence generally are known for some time before becoming listed. However, entries on the unconfirmed list could still have an impact origin disproven.

Name Location Diameter Age Coordinates
Cerro do Jarau crater[1] Brazil 10 km (6.2 mi) ? 30°12′S 56°32′W / 30.200°S 56.533°W / -30.200; -56.533 (Cerro Jarau)
Iturralde Bolivia 8 km (5.0 mi) 11–30 thousand 12°35′S 67°40′W / 12.583°S 67.667°W / -12.583; -67.667 (Iturralde)
Piratininga crater Paraná Basin, Brazil 12 km (7.5 mi) 117 million 22°28′12″S 49°09′00″W / 22.47000°S 49.15000°W / -22.47000; -49.15000 (Piratininga)
Praia Grande[1] Santos Basin, Brazil 20 km (12 mi) 84 million 25°39′S 45°37′W / 25.650°S 45.617°W / -25.650; -45.617 (Praia Grande)
Vichada Structure Colombia 50 km (31 mi) 30 million 4°30′N 69°15′W / 4.500°N 69.250°W / 4.500; -69.250 (Vichada)
  1. ^ a b "Update On The Current Knowledge Of The Brazilian Impact Craters" (PDF).