| Carswell impact structure | |
|---|---|
 In the northern part the rim is visible as a series of low hills, in the southern part it is indicated by the course of Douglas River. Carswell Lake (in the upper right) cuts into the structure. | |
| Impact crater/structure | |
| Diameter | 39 kilometres (24 mi) |
| Age | 115 ± 10 million years (LowerCretaceous) |
| Exposed | Yes |
| Drilled | Yes |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 58°26′26″N109°30′24″W / 58.44056°N 109.50667°W /58.44056; -109.50667 |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
  Carswell impact structure Location of Carswell impact structure in Saskatchewan | |
| Topo map | NTS74K5Cluff Lake,74K6Jolley Lake |
| Access | Saskatchewan Highway 955 |
Carswell is animpact structure within theAthabasca Basin of theCanadian Shield in northernSaskatchewan, Canada.[1] It is 39 kilometres (24 mi) in diameter and the age is estimated to be 115 ± 10 million years (LowerCretaceous). The impact structure is exposed at the surface.
The central peak complex of faulted metamorphic rocks displaysshatter cones,planar deformation features,pseudotachylyte veins, andimpact melts andbreccias. There is also evidence of planar deformation features in quartz grains far to the south of the outer ring of present-day hills, which suggests the ring of hills are not the rim of the original crater but apeak ring within a much larger structure. The Carswell Formation, composed of algallimestone, may have formed onseamounts elevated to near the surface as part of the peak ring.[2]
The Carswell impact structure can be reached bySaskatchewan Highway 955. The 245 kilometres (152 mi) gravel road begins in the village ofLa Loche and ends at the oldCluff Lake mine site within the crater. The Cluff Lake uranium mine produced over 62 million pounds ofyellowcake during its 22-year operating life.[3] Since the mine is now closed and decommissioned, there are no travel services in the vicinity and no functional airstrip. Motorists driving to the structure need to carry sufficient fuel and supplies for the round trip back to La Loche.
 | This article related to theCretaceousperiod is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
 | This article about a location in theCensus Division No. 18 of Saskatchewan is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
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