Morphological characteristics of silali basin

Abstract

The paper focuses on the formation of Silali basin as an Extra-terrestrial Impact Crater (ETIC) and its ETIC related morphological characteristics. The basic shape of an impact structure is a circular or near circular depression with an upraised rim, though other crater details may vary with the crater’s diameter. The Silali crater has a near circular shape as shown by the satellite images of the area, the area’s topographical maps (not in the paper), the DEM of the basin and the LIDAR image of the study area. Apparently, Silali’s near circular shape is a product of remodelling of the original crater shape by various geological processes. These processes include subsidence, plate tectonic movements, erosion and sedimentation. Further, the Silali crater can be classified as a complex crater, because of its hummocky floor, or a basin, because its diameter is above 4 km (it is 5-8 km). The crater floor contains small craters, volcanic cones and ridges besides slumped rock materials. Silali basin does not display a clear peak ring but there is an outline of a peak ring.