Whitecourt

Whitecourt Crater

The Whitecourt crater is a meteorite impact structure located in central Alberta, Canada, approximately 10 kilometers southeast of the Town of Whitecourt. It is particularly noteworthy for its remarkably well-preserved state, considering its relatively small size and young age. The crater measures about 36 meters in diameter and 6 meters deep, and its formation is estimated to have occurred between 1,080 and 1,130 years ago.

Discovery and Confirmation

This impact site was discovered on July 3, 2007, by Sonny Stevens, a local resident who was using a metal detector while hunting. The authenticity of the crater as a meteorite impact site was subsequently confirmed by Dr. Chris Herd, a professor at the University of Alberta's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, who verified the meteoritic nature of the recovered fragments.

Meteorite Fragments and Preservation

As of 2012, more than 3,000 pieces of the impacting meteorite had been found. These fragments are characterized as shrapnel, mostly weighing between a few grams and 500 grams, exhibiting sharp edges and mechanical deformation consistent with impact shock, but without signs of impact melt. In addition to the shrapnel, over a dozen individual meteorites, some showing regmaglypts and the largest weighing 31 kilograms, have been recovered. The meteorite fragments are identified as irons of type IIIAB, with most having been ejected eastward from the crater.

Protection and Research

The area surrounding the Whitecourt crater has been designated a protected zone, measuring 200 by 200 meters, where collecting is prohibited and subject to severe penalties. Despite this, the majority of meteorite fragments have been found on adjacent Crown land. The crater's excellent preservation makes it a valuable site for scientific study of small, young impact events.