LONAR CRATER

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Not seen: ALEXANDER, J E (1824): Notice in regard to the saline lake of Loonar, situated in Berar, East Indies.- Edinburgh Philosophical Journal (Edinburgh) 11: 308-311. Not seen: BLANDFORD, W T (1868): Notes on route from Poona to Nagpur, via Ahmednuggur, Jalna, Loonar, Yeotmahal, Mangali, and Hingunghát.- Records of the Geological Survey of India. ISSN 0370-5226 (Calcutta: Government of India), I, vol. 1: 60-65. Not seen: LATOUCHE, T H D (circa 1911 or so) Not seen: SMITH, G (1856): Description and plan of the Natron Lake of Loonar, with an analysis of the salt [by J. E. Mayer].- Madras Journal of Literature and Science: (Madras: Asiatic Society), New Series vol. 17, (no. 1): 1-21. Not seen: ORLEBAR, A B (1839): Note on the Lake of Lonar.- Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society (Bombay; Bombay Geographical Society), Issue 1839 February, vol. 11: 35-38.A meteorite crater with a shallow lake of saline water. A few years ago the crater was only about 40'000 years old (LONELYPLANET, India 1997: 866) but has been aging fast and is now already probably 50'000 years old (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 237; 2009: 828). Some of the reported dimensions include diameter depth literary source 1 km 5m. circumf… 186 m 610 ft SMITH, G (1882: 344) 1.6 km one mile 91-122 m 300 or 400 feet IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 16: 172) 2 km several 100 m LONELY PLANET, India (1997: 866) 2 km 170 m LONELY PLANET, India (2005: 237; 2009: 828) 1 km 250 m LONAR CRATER LAKE (2009) SITUATION: On a plain about 165 km along the road approximately east of Aurangabad (N19°53': E75°20') and at a walking ditance of 15 minutes from the bus station at the village of Lonar / Lonad (note 1) -- ask for directions to -Lonar Tank-. APPROACH: Four direct buses leave daily to Lonar from Aurangabad (Rs 70, five hours). The last bus back to Aurangabad departs at 5 pm. Lonar can also be reached by bus from Fardarpur, with a change at Buldhana N20°35': E76°25' (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 77). CRATER DESCRIPTION 2009: About 50'000 years ago … an asteroid … leaving enough to make a crater a kilometre across and about 250 m deep. This crater then filled up with water to form what we know today as the Lonar Crater Lake. The Lonar Crater is the only meteorite impact crater to have formed in basaltic rock and owing to its origin, the lake's water is saline and highly alkaline in nature. This also means that it's home to some of the most unique flora and fauna in the country … (LONAR CRATER LAKE 2009 in -Jetwings- 9, 11: 134 … forwarded by Rainer Straub 2009.12.14). CRATER DESCRIPTION 1908: The view of the lake is very striking. It is surrounded by a circular ridge of hills about 400 feet [122 m] high, among which are several old temples and ruins of other monuments. From a crevice on the southern ridge flows an ample spring of sweet water, with a temple at the fountain head. This temple is the finest specimens of Hemadpanti architecture in Berar. The hollow is very nealy circular, a little more than a mile [1609 m] and from 300 to 400 feet [91 to 122 m] deep. At the bottom lies a shallow lake of water, without any apparent outlet, and charged with sodium chloride and sodium carbonate. The sides of the hollow to the north and north-east are absolutely level with the surrounding country, while on the other side there is a raised rim, from 40 to 100 feet [12 to 30 m] in height, composed of irregularly piled blocks of basalt similar to that which forms the horizontal shhets of lava around (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 16: 172). CRATER DESCRIPTION 1882: Berar … On its most S. plateau, in Booldana district, is the salt lake of Lonar, like an enormous crater, with a circumference of 5 m. [8 km] and depth of 610 ft. [186 m], worked by Akbar for saltpetre [note 2]; it is 4 m. [6.5 km] N. of the boundary, and is the only crater in the great basaltic district of Central India (SMITH, G 1882: 344).CRATER DESCRIPTION 1856: Not seen: SMITH, G (1856): Descriptio and plan of the Natron Lake of Loonar, with an analysis of the Salt [by J. E. Mayer].- CRATER DESCRIPTION 1829: This curious lake is contained in a sort of cauldron of rocks amidst a pleasing landscape, and is of course the object of superstition. The taste of the water is uncommonly brackish. Mr Alexander, who describes it, found by a rough analysis that 100 parts contains Muriate of soda, 20 parts Muriate of lime, 10 parts Muriate of magnesia, 6 parts The principal purpose to which the sediment of the water is applied is cleansing the shawls of Cashmere. It is also used as an ingredient in the alkaline cake of the Mussulmans, &ct. Trans. Lit. Soc. Madras, Part i (ALEXANDER, J E edited by David Brewster 1829: 186). FABULOUS SPELEOLOGY: The most plausible explanation for this peculiar hollow is that which ascribes it to a violent gaseous explosion, which must have occurred long after the eruption of the Deccan traps, and in comparatively recent times (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909,16: 172). Glennie (s.a. circa 1948-1952 Mss) refers to La Touche in Rec. G.S.I. XL I (note 3), who is said to ascribe the origin of the Lonar crater to the collapse of the roof of a cavern [compare –>Lonar Cavern] formed by the escape of lava or of volcanic vapours. It may however be an exploded crater.16: 172). Glennie (s.a. circa 1948-1952 Mss) refers to La Touche in Rec. G.S.I. XL I (note 3), who is said to ascribe the origin of the Lonar crater to the collapse of the roof of a cavern [compare –>Lonar Cavern] formed by the escape of lava or of volcanic vapours. It may however be an exploded crater.