Geologists from the University of New Mexico have linked two significant geological landmarks in the American Southwest: the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater. The study, conducted by Distinguished Professors Emeritus Karl Karlstrom and Laurie Crossey, along with their co-authors, suggests a connection between a meteor impact and a landslide dam that formed a paleolake in the Grand Canyon approximately 56,000 years ago.
The research highlights “the striking coincidence in the geologic ages of a meteor impact and a landslide dam that blocked the Colorado River.” Driftwood and lake sediments found in Stanton’s Cave in Marble Canyon have been dated to be 56,000 years old using new methods. This finding aligns with earlier hypotheses about a rockslide near Nankoweap Canyon forming a dam and paleolake.
Co-author Chris Baisan worked on driftwood collections at the University of Arizona’s Laboratory for Tree Ring Research. David Kring, science coordinator for Meteor Crater, contributed to recalculating Meteor Crater ages. Jonathan Palmer from an Australian lab noted the age coincidence during his visit to both sites.
The team used two dating methods on samples sent to labs in Australia and New Zealand. Both methods returned statistically indistinguishable dates of 55,600 years old. These results support theories proposed by Richard Hereford of USGS Flagstaff regarding rockslides forming dams.
“The team put together these arguments without claiming we have final proof,” said Karlstrom. “Nevertheless, the meteorite impact, massive landslide, lake deposits, and driftwood high above river level are all rare occurrences.”
