Gravity and Magnetic Investigations in the Haughton Impact Structure, Devon Island, Canada

Abstract— The results of a new gravity survey show that the Haughton impact structure is associated with a 24 km diameter negative Bouguer gravity anomaly with a maximum amplitude of −12 mgal. A local minimum with a half‐width of 2 km and an amplitude of −4 mgal is located at the center of the structure. A positive magnetic total field anomaly with a half‐width of 0.6 km and an amplitude of 700 nT coincides with the local central gravity anomaly. The overall negative gravity anomaly is explained by lowered rock densities due to impact‐related fracturing in the crater area. The central gravity and magnetic anomalies are believed to be due to highly shocked and heated sedimentary and crystalline basement rocks forming the unexposed peak of the central uplift in the Haughton impact structure.