A different story was recorded by Charles Mountford [13] that attributed the largest crater's formation to an anthropomorphic lizard woman (called Mulumura) tossing soil out of the crater, forming its bowl-shape. This iron meteorite is classified as a (IIIAB) medium octahedrite. The Henbury meteorite fell 4,700 years ago in what is now the Northern Territory, Australia. Kohman T. P. and Goel P.S. Each state has its own government, which exercises a limited degree of sovereignty. Corrections? The Henbury Meteor, weighing several tonnes and accelerating to over 40,000 km per hour, disintegrated before impact and the fragments formed the craters. The largest crater is approximately 180 metres in diameter. of3to5cratersnearHenbury,A.R.Alderman (1932)carriedoutthefirstscientiiicstudj^ofthe Henburymeteoritecraters.Hediscovered, mapped,anddescribed13craters,whichranged … At Henbury there are 13 to 14 craters ranging from 7 to 180 m (23 to 591 ft) in diameter and up to 15 m (49 ft) in depth that were formed when the meteor broke up before impact. Several tonnes of iron-nickel fragments have been recovered from the site. (1931). Several tonnes of iron-nickel fragments have been recovered from the site. In 1931, the cluster of craters at Henbury Cattle Station south of Alice Springs in Central Australia was one of the first places on Earth where a group of impact structures could definitely be linked to the fall of iron meteorites. Terrestrial ages of meteorites from cosmogenic. Henbury craters are a result of one of the few impact events that have occurred in a populated area (few other examples are Kaali crater in Estonia and 2007 Carancas impact event in Peru). The others range from 30 to 266 ft in diameter. He will burn and eat any bad blackfellows. The reserve contains over a dozen craters, which were formed when a fragmented meteorite hit the Earth’s surface. The reserve is located 145 kilometres south west of Alice Springs and contains twelve craters, which were formed when a fragmented meteorite hit the earth’s surface. . The Henbury crater field lies at the crossroads of several Aboriginal language groups, including Arrernte, Luritja, Pitjantjatjarra, and Yankunytjatjara. Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve. Alderman, A.R. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Omissions? The craters are named for Henbury Station, a nearby cattle station named in 1875 for the family home of its founders at Henbury in Dorset, England. This engraved record of an ancient meteorite shower 4,700 years ago was the inspiration for Aboriginal folklore and a shadow of dark superstition. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. (1963). Volume 1: From the Ténéré to Western Sahara. The reserve is located 125 km (78 mi) south west of Alice Springs and contains over a dozen craters, which were formed when a fragmented meteorite hit the Earth’s surface. Follow the self-guided walking track around the craters, the largest of which is 180 metres wide and 15 metres deep. The soil discarded by Mulumura explained the piles of meteoritic iron around the craters and the presence of ejecta rays (which are unique to terrestrial impacts but are now gone due to prospecting at the site). Les cratères sont les traces d'impacts qui ont eu lieu dans une zone habitée, ce qui est assez rare. (2005). The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory give the Arrernte name for the crater field as Tatyeye Kepmwere (or Tatjakapara). The Biodiversity Heritage Library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community. The bedrock consists of weathered, gently dipping Neoproterozoic shales and thin sandstones covered by a veneer of pediment gravels. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Protected areas of the Northern Territory, Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve, "Place Names Register Extract for "Henbury Meteorite Craters, "Terrestrial Protected Areas by Reserve Type in the Northern Territory (2012)", Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton, Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve Draft Plan of Management 2002, Aboriginal Oral Traditions of Australian Impact Craters, "Henbury Meteorite Craters Conservation Reserve, Ernest Giles Rd, Alice Springs (sic), NT, Australia - listing on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate (Place ID 193)", Mindat.org - Henbury meteorite, Henbury Cattle Station, Alice Springs, Gardiner Range, MacDonnell Shire, Northern Territory, Australia, Indigenous Protected Areas of the Northern Territory, Protected areas managed by the Australian government, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Henbury_Meteorites_Conservation_Reserve&oldid=1013966168, Conservation reserves in the Northern Territory, Northern Territory places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 24 March 2021, at 12:57. Henbury Meteorite Craters, NT These craters are located in the Northern Territory of Australia. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve, Northern Territory, Austl. The meteorite broke into fragments as it fell, producing over a dozen craters as they hit the Earth. European researchers have discovered the meteorite craters in 1899. Spencer, "Mineralogical Magazine", Volume 23, pp. These include the Henbury craters, Wolfe Creek Crater, […] Meteoritic fragments found in the area show evidence of having been heated to about 1,562° F (850° C), indicating the occurrence of an explosion; it is thought that the three largest craters were formed by explosions while the rest are impact craters. The Henbury Meteorite Craters consist of twelve craters that stretch across central Australia's outback. As early as the beginning of the twentieth century, research began in the area, during which the numerous fragments of the meteorite … The craters … The fragments are composed of nickel–iron; the extensive decay of some indicates great age. The first scientific investigations of the Henbury site were not published until 1932 paper by the University of Adelaide, in "The Meteorite Craters at Henbury Central Australia". 19-32. Hodge's work was originally published as Number 8, Volume 8, of the Smithsonian's "Contributions to Astrophysics", in 1965. Available to buyers in Europe now: https://www.meteorite-recon.com/…/meteor…/forafistfulofrocks. The site is large mainly because the meteorite broke into pieces before hitting the ground. [8] The first scientific investigations of the site were conducted by A.R. Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia. 120 Kilometer südwestlich von Alice Springs im Northern Territory, Australien. Impact cratering and distal ejecta: the Australian record. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Les cratères de Henbury constituent un groupe de 13 cratères météoritiques situé dans les Territoires du Nord en Australie . At least one of the craters is thought to have formed due to an explosion after impact that scattered iron shrapnel around the crater field a series of meteorites hit the earth south of Alice Springs. Mitchell[11] said that older Aboriginal people would not camp within a couple of miles of the Henbury craters. Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia located in the locality of Ghan.[1]. Additional Physical Format: Online version: Hodge, Paul W. Henbury Meteorite Craters (OCoLC)670073105: Material Type: Government publication, National government publication Meteorite Craters Australia is home to some 30 confirmed craters that formed from the impacts of comets, asteroids, and meteorites. The Simpson Desert to the east was making known its presence. Henbury was the earliest documented example of impact cratering in Australia. Northern Territory. Henbury-Krater . [3][4] The largest crater (thought to be a coalescence of two smaller craters) is 733 ft (217 m) long, 366 ft wide, and 50 ft deep. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. [14] This probably relates to Dreaming stories about ancestral lizard beings from the area of Henbury station near the Finke River, just north of the crater field. It was also the first place where radial rays and loops of ejected Haines P.W. Alderman of the University of Adelaide who published the results in a 1932 paper entitled The Meteorite Craters at Henbury Central Australia. Henbury ist eine Gruppe von zwölf bestätigten und mehreren unbestätigten Meteoriten -Impaktstrukturen, ca. It was also the first place where radial rays and loops of ejected rock material, comparable to those seen around craters on the Moon, were observed. These range in age form a few thousand years to over a billion years. [citation needed], Henbury is one of five meteorite impact sites in Australia with remaining meteorite fragments and one of the world's best preserved examples of a small crater field. [10] J.M. Meteorite fragments (11), from the Henbury meteorite craters, iron / silica / unidentified rock, Henbury, Northern Territory, Australia, acquired 1984, used at Sydney Observatory, New South Wales, Australia The larger craters contain rock flour and fused silica glass. In 1980, the conservation reserve was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate. Henbury is one of the world's best preserved examples of a small meteorite crater field. Geoff and Steve journey to one of the most remarkable meteorite sites on the planet—the Henbury Crater field in central Australia. With Steve Arnold, Geoffrey Notkin, Craig John O'Neill, Craig Sechler. Der größte der Henbury Krater misst 157 Meter im Durchmesser. meteorite craters, Northern Territory, Australia. Coming to Amazon Europe in July. Australia has a federal form of government, with a central government and six constituent states—New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The Henbury Meteor, weighing several tonnes and accelerating to over 40,000 km per hour, disintegrated before impact, and the fragments formed the twelve craters. The site has been dated to ≤4.7 thousand years ago based on the cosmogenic C terrestrial age of the meteorite and 4.2±1.9 thousand years ago using fission track dating. For a Fistful of Rocks - Arid Zone Meteorite Prospection. Hodge's work was originally published as Number 8, Volume 8, of the Smithsonian's "Contributions to Astrophysics", in 1965. Geologic study of the meteorite craters at Henbury, Northern Territory, Australia, was undertaken in 1963 by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of a program of investigations of impact features conducted on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration .. La zone est une aire protégée, appelée « Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve ». The Henbury Iron Meteorites and crater field were discovered in 1931. This indicates a living memory of the event.[12]. An elder Aboriginal man that accompanied Mitchell to the site explained that Aboriginal people would not drink rainwater that collected in the craters, fearing the "fire-devil" would fill them with a piece of iron. Updates? The scattered fragments of the Answer 1 of 6: Heading to to the Henbury Craters in Australia in September & was wondering if anyone knew of an area between Henbury & Alice Springs that has lodging? There are approximately 13 impact craters created by the impacting Henbury Meteorites. 346 pages, 290 photos, maps & illustrations, full color. These meteorites are often very nicely sculptured. The first scientific investigations of the Henbury site were not published until 1932 paper by the University of Adelaide, in "The Meteorite Craters at Henbury Central Australia". The craters were near the Henbury pasture, to whose honor they were named. Australian Aboriginal Geomythology: Eyewitness Accounts of Cosmic Impacts? An Aboriginal contact said of the crater field: tjintu waru tjinka yapu tjinka kurdaitcha kuka, which roughly translates in the Luritja language as A fiery devil ran down from the Sun and made his home in the Earth. The craters, recognized in 1931, lie in an area of 0.5 sq mi (1.25 sq km) and are distributed in a scattering ellipse typical of a cluster fall of meteorites. The largest of the craters in this crater field is 180 m wide. [9] Numerous studies have been undertaken since. It is considered a sacred site to the Arrernte people and would have formed during human habitation of the area. The craters, recognized in 1931, lie in an area of 0.5 sq mi (1.25 sq km) and are distributed in a scattering ellipse typical of a cluster fall of meteorites. Henbury Meteorite Craters (NT) Looking For Meteorites At Henbury Meteorite Craters (NT) The country had begun to look drier and redder, with spinifex-covered sand dunes becoming a regular feature and the ground underfoot like soft red beach sand. [16], Protected area in the Northern Territory, Australia, The above list consists of places managed by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory either alone or with other parties. At Henbury there are 13 to 14 craters ranging from 7 to 180 metres in There are also two internal…, Northern Territory, self-governing territory of Australia, occupying the central section of the northern part of the continent. [5], At Henbury there are 13 to 14 craters ranging from 7 to 180 m (23 to 591 ft) in diameter and up to 15 m (49 ft) in depth that were formed when the meteor broke up before impact. Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve contains 12 craters which were formed when a meteor hit the earth's surface 4,700 years ago. The meteorite craters at Henbury, Central Australia with an addendum by L.J. They are believed to be the result of a single event, the break up of a large iron meteorite at low altitude. Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve contains twelve craters which were formed when a meteor hit the earth’s surface 4,700 years ago. In 1931, the cluster of craters at Henbury Cattle Station south of Alice Springs in Central Australia was one of the first places on Earth where a group of impact structures could definitely be linked to the fall of iron meteorites. The craters were discovered in 1899 by the manager of the station, then went uninvestigated until interest was stirred when the Karoonda meteorite fell on South Australia in 1930. Located 145 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs, the reserve contains 12 craters that were formed when the Henbury Meteor, weighing several tonnes and accelerating to over 40,000 kilometres per hour, disintegrated before impact. Henbury Craters, group of 13 meteorite craters in a desert area 8 mi (13 km) west-southwest of Henbury, Northern Territory, central Australia, within the Henbury Meteorite Conservation Park. Hamacher, D.W. and Norris, R.P (2009). In 1931, the cluster of craters at Henbury Cattle Station south of Alice Springs in Central Australia was one of the first places on Earth where a group of impact … The man claimed his paternal grandfather had seen the fire-devil and that he came from the Sun. Henbury Craters, group of 13 meteorite craters in a desert area 8 mi (13 km) west-southwest of Henbury, Northern Territory, central Australia, within the Henbury Meteorite Conservation Park. Some of these craters are featured in Aboriginal traditions that describe their formation. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Henbury-Craters. The Henbury craters consist of about 12 small craters ranging from 6 to 146 m in diameter. When a meteor crashed into the earth 4,700 years ago it left 12 craters in the Central Australian desert that can be explored today at the Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve. At Henbury there are 13 to 14 craters ranging from 7 to 180 metres in diameter and up to 15 metres in depth that were formed when the meteor broke up before impact. [15] The craters were listed as one item on the Northern Territory Heritage Register on 13 August 2003. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Northern Territory is bounded by the Timor and Arafura seas to the north and by Western Australia to the west, Queensland and the Gulf of Carpentaria to the east, and…, Less than a month after becoming Australia’s first woman prime minister, Julia Gillard of the centre-left Australian Labor Party (ALP) called an election for August 21, eight months earlier than was constitutionally required, hoping to capitalize on a surge in support for the ALP following her rise…. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Henbury meteor weighed several tonnes and hurtled to earth at 40,000km per hour before fragmenting on impact. The site has been dated to ≤4.7 thousand years ago based on the cosmogenic 14C terrestrial age of the meteorite[6] and 4.2±1.9 thousand years ago using fission track dating.[7].