Gr. Osinski et al., Impact-induced hydrothermal activity within the Haughton impact structure,arctic Canada: Generation of a transient, warm, wet oasis, METEORIT PL, 36(5), 2001, pp. 731-745
Field studies and analytical scanning electron microscopy indicate that a h
ydrothermal system was created by the interaction of water with hot, impact
-generated rocks following formation of the 24 km diameter, 23 Ma Haughton
impact structure. Hydrothermal alteration is recognized in two settings: wi
thin polymict impact breccias overlying the central portion of the structur
e, and within localized pipes in impact-generated concentric fault systems.
The intra-breccia alteration comprises three varieties of cavity and fract
ure filling: (a) sulfide with carbonate, (b) sulfate, and (c) carbonate. Th
ese are accompanied by subordinate celestite, barite, fluorite, quartz and
marcasite. Selenite is also developed, particularly in the lower levels of
the impact breccia sheet. The fault-related hydrothermal alteration occurs
in 1-7 m diameter subvertical pipes that are exposed for lengths of up 20 m
. The pipes are defined by a monomict quartz-carbonate breccia showing pron
ounced Fe-hydroxide alteration. Associated sulfides include marcasite, pyri
te and chalcopyrite. We propose three distinct stages in the evolution of t
he hydrothermal system: (1) Early Stage (> 200 degreesC), with the precipit
ation of quartz (vapor phase dominated); (2) Main Stage (200-100 degreesC),
with the development of a two-phase (vapor plus liquid) zone, leading to c
alcite, celestite, barite, marcasite and fluorite precipitation; and (3) La
te Stage (< 100 degreesC), with selenite and fibroferrite development throu
gh liquid phase-dominated precipitation. We estimate that it took several t
ens of thousands of years to cool below 50 degreesC following impact. Durin
g this time, Haughton supported a 14 km diameter crater lake and subsurface
water system, providing a warmer, wetter niche relative to the surrounding
terrain. The results reveal how understanding the internal structure of im
pact craters is necessary in order to determine their plumbing and cooling
systems.