IntroductionMeteorites have impacted the Earth's surface several times since its formation. Geologists have recently become interested in the structures left by these formations and have begun to define and organize these structures. There is also debate over which rock formations currently being studied, such as the Upheaval Dome, are actually considered meteor impact structures. But what exactly are these common formations and structures related to meteor impact structures? BodyCraters are the most common structures associated with meteor impacts. There are two general types of craters that geologists use to identify different craters: simple craters and complex craters. Simple craters are generally bowl-shaped with diameters between 2 and 4 kilometers depending on the rocks impacted (Ferrière, 2011). Generally speaking, the craters of sedimentary rocks are smaller than the craters of crystalline rocks (Ferrière, 2011). Complex craters are aptly named because they are much more complex than simple craters. The rocks in the centers of craters are generally uplifted and the walls tend to collapse inwards (Ferrière, 2011). The rocks that constitute the central uplift of complex craters are rocks from deep within the crater floor that were uplifted by the enormous force exerted by the initial meteorite impact (Gaz et al., 2009). There is also a form of breccia found at the bottom of craters. Like most breccias, these are made of fine-grained sediment with other rock fragments inside; however, the rock fragments are mixed violently and chaotically rather than the more ordered formation found outside the crater rim. This particular type of breccia was first noticed by Danie...... middle of paper ...... large uplifted center and the rock layers are extremely and violently deformed and folded similar to a complex crater. However, there is no definitive evidence proving or disproving that this formation is a meteor impact site. Conclusion There are several common structures associated with meteor impact sites. Perhaps the most common and best known is the impact crater, which can be simple or complex. Another structure is an impact breach. The breach is usually located inside the crater floor. Shock deformation is also a common structure at meteorite impact sites due to the immense speed at which meteorites travel when they strike the Earth's surface. Due to the nature of shock deformation, chemical and isotopic signatures may be left in the crater by the meteorite. All of these elements can help identify meteorite impact structures.