A 56,000-year-old meteorite impact may have triggered a massive landslide in the Grand Canyon, forming a deep lake that has since dried up. Geologists studying driftwood and lake sediments found in Stanton’s Cave revealed a possible connection between the area and Meteor Crater, a famous impact site in northern Arizona.
Researchers used excavation and radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the driftwood, which was carried by an ancient paleolake formed when a landslide dammed the Colorado River. The study suggests that the impact would have generated a powerful earthquake, shaking loose cliffs 100 miles away and triggering a massive landslide.
The findings indicate that the strike that created Meteor Crater could be linked to a paleolake in the Grand Canyon, which formed at the same time. Other caves high above the river have also been explored for clues about the canyon’s geological past, with ancient beaver tracks found in areas inaccessible to modern animals, supporting the idea of a paleolake.
The researchers estimate that the paleolake was 50 miles long and nearly 300 feet deep. However, they noted that further study is required to eliminate other possible explanations for the river damming, such as random rockfall or local earthquakes.
Their findings were published in the journal Geology on July 15.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/meteor-impact-may-have-triggered-massive-grand-canyon-landslide-56-000-years-ago