Lifting dome: Utah’s mysterious crater that still puzzles scientists – gadgets 360

A striking geological structure in the Canyonland National Park, Utah, has remained the subject of a scientific debate for decades. A lifting dome, a rock formation with serrated ridges, forming concentric circles, covers approximately 5 kilometers and rises to 300 meters. The site attracted attention because of conflicting theories about its origin. While many researchers believe it was the result of a meteoric effect about 60 million years ago, others suggest that an underground salt dome may have played a role in forming the formation. Evidence such as shocked quartz crystals found in the place have been cited in support of the impact hypothesis, but alternative explanations continue.

Impacting crater or salt dome? Competing theories

According to studies conducted at the site, the theory of meteorite impact suggests that a large alien body struck the region, creating depression in the form of a bowl. Over time, the surrounding scale collapsed inward and the central zone may have restored, leading to a full structure visible today. The presence of shocked quartz, mineral deformation, usually associated with high -energy effects, has increased this hypothesis.

As reported by Live Science, in contrast, geologists have been presented an alternative explanation, including salt tectonics. A significant layer of ancient salt deposits is under the formation of sandstone in southeast juta. Due to its lower density, it is known that the salt moves and presses up, potentially creating a dome structure under the upper rock.

As erosion has happened in millions of years, the remnants of this geological process can be what remains visible in the landscape today. If this theory is correct, the catastrophic dome will be considered one of the deepest eroded salt structures on Earth.

The scientific investigation continues to continue

While the discovery of shocked quartz provided serious evidence of the theory of impact, no definition of the origin of the dome has been made. The reports show that no recent study has finally allowed the debate, leaving room for continuing the study of one of the most frequent Utah formations.