Meteorites / Impact Structures

A meteorite is a solid object formed from a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and has survived atmospheric passage and fallen to the Earth's surface. An impact crater is formed by the impact of a large meteorite.

Ames Crater is an impact crater near Ames in Major County, Oklahoma. It is not visible at the surface as it is buried under 9000 feet of sediment. It was not discovered until 1991 when seismic exploration showed its unusual shape – roughly circular and 10 miles across. It is approximately 470 million years old. Ames Crater is also notable for being the largest of six oil-producing impact craters in the United States.

For more information on Oklahoma meteorites, please visit The Meteorological Society.

DuBois, R.L., 2001, Meteorites:  Their origin, recognition, and classification: Oklahoma Geology Notes, v. 61, no. 4, pp. 113-120. (PDF)

Graffham, A.A., 1964, Lake Murray meteorite and its probable age: Oklahoma Geology Notes, v. 24, no. 9, pp. 214-216. (PDF)

Johnson, K.S., and Campbell, J.A., eds., 1997, Ames structure in northwest Oklahoma and similar features: origin and petroleum production (1995 Symposium):  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, 396 p. (PDF)

Circular 100 also includes:

Carpenter, B.N., and Carlson, R., 1997, The Ames meteorite-impact crater:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 104-119.

Sandridge, R., and Ainsworth, K., 1997, The Ames Structure reservoirs and three-dimensional seismic development:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 120-132.

Coughlon, J.P., and Denney, P.P., 1997, The Ames Structure and other North American cryptoexplosion features:  Evidence for endogenic emplacement:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 133-152.

Bridges, D.L.W., 1997, Ames depression, Oklahoma:  Domal collapse and later subsurface solution:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 153-168.

Koeberl, C., Reimold, W.U., Brandt, D., Dallmeyer, R., and Powell, R.A., 1997, Target rocks and breccias from the Ames impact structure, Oklahoma; petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and age:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 169-198.

Kuykendall, M.D., Johnson, C.L., and Carlson, R.A., 1997, Reservoir characterization of a complex impact structure:  Ames Impact Structure, Northern Shelf, Anadarko Basin:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 199-206.

Evans, J., 1997, Historical development and production of the Arbuckle and exotic lithologies in the Ames Structure, Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 207-213.  

Heyer, J.E., 1997, Trapping mechanisms in Arbuckle strata, Major County, Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 214-222.

Fischer, J.F., 1997, The Nicor No. 18-4 Chestnut Core, Ames Structure, Oklahoma; description and petrography:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 223-239.

Curtiss, D.K., and Wavrek, D.A., 1997, The Oil Creek-Arbuckle (!) Petroleum System, Major County, Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 240-258.

Philp, R.P., Allen, J., and Weber, J.L., 1997, Organic geochemical characteristics of oils and possible source rocks from the Ames Impact Structure:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, p. 259.

Koger, D.G., and Wiley, M.A., 1997, Correlation of Landsat MSS (Multi-Spectral Scanner) and TM (Thamatic Mapper) images with subsurface structure, Ames, Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 260-264.

Northcutt, R.A., and Brown, D.P., 1997, Drilling and oil and gas production history at the Ames Feature, Major County, Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 297-301.

Ambers, C.P., Brandlein, P., and Gilbert, M.C., 1997, Petrology of enigmatic rocks from 2.75 Km depth in the Ames Structural Anomaly, Major County, Oklahoma, and their relationship to suevite from the Ries Crater, Nordlingen, Bavaria:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 302-309.

Huffman, A.R., 1997, Shock-induced microstructures and experimental constraints on the formation of the Ames Impact Structure:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 310-325.

Tucker, J.D., Hitzman, D.C., and Rountree, B.A., 1997, Shock-induced microstructures and experimental constraints on the formation of the Ames Impact Structure:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 326-329.

Ahern, J.L., 1997, Gravity and magnetic investigation of the Ames Structure, North-Central Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 330-333.

Denison, R.E., Stern, R.J., and Sun, C-H., 1997, Basement rocks in the Ames area:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 334-338.

Banks, R., and Kuykendall, M.D., 1997, Arcuate faults help to “relax” and explain the Ames Structure:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 339-356.

Johnson, K.S., and Smith, D., 1997, Ames Structure of northwestern Oklahoma is reflected in overlying Permian strata:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 357-362.

Repetski, J.E., 1997, Conodont age constraints on the Middle Ordovician black shale within the Ames Structure, Major County, Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 363-369.

Hannibal, J.T., and Feldmann, R.M., 1997, Phyllocarid Crustaceans from a Middle Ordovician black shale within the Ames Structure, northwest Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 370-373.

Haines, R.A., 1997, Comparison of Sylvan structure residual maps of the Ames Feature, using control as of December 1990 and December 1994:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, p. 374.

Attrep, Jr., M., Quintana, L.R., and Cisneros, M.R., 1997, Iridium in samples from the Ames Structure:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 375-378.

Mescher, P.K., and Schultz, D.J., 1997, Gamma-ray marker in Arbuckle Dolomite, Wilburton Field, Oklahoma; a widespread event associated with the Ames impact structure:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 100, pp. 379-384.