Kelly West is a deeply eroded impact crater situated in the central Northern Territory, Australia. It was discovered during Government geological mapping and first reported in 1973, the evidence for impact coming principally from an abundance of shatter cones at the site.
The surface expression of Kelly West comprises a circular hill of Palaeoproterozoic quartzite about 2 km in diameter, interpreted as a central uplift of a larger complex impact crater. Recent geophysical interpretation suggests an original crater diameter of 6.6 km, less than earlier estimates of about 10 km. The age is poorly constrained, but must be older than Middle Cambrian because sedimentary rocks of this age overlie the central uplift and were not deformed by the impact event.
Famous quotes containing the words west and/or crater:
“Go on, high ship, since now, upon the shore,
The snake has left its skin upon the floor.
Key West sank downward under massive clouds
And silvers and greens spread over the sea. The moon
Is at the mast-head and the past is dead.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“Give me a condor’s quill! Give me Vesuvius’ crater for an inkstand!”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)