Lonar crater

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Lonar crater in the Buldhana district of the Indian state of Maharashtra is the largest crater in basaltic rock. It is partially filled by a salt water lake.

It is 6,000 ft (1.83 km) in diameter and 170 metres in depth, and its age is estimated to be 52,000 ± 6,000 years. (Pleistocene)

For a detailed map of Lonar crater created using GPS technology, click on the link below:

Lonar Crater Map

Lonar crater is situated around 550 km from Mumbai, 160 km from Aurangabad and 140 km from Buldhana. It is about 4½ hours drive southeast of the famous Ajanta Caves. The nearest railway station is Jalna on Manmad-Nanded Section of SC Railway.

Although once thought to be of volcanic origin, Lonar Crater is now recognized as an impact crater created by the hypervelocity impact of either a comet or meteorite. The impact origin of this crater is clearly demonstrated by the presence of plagioclase that has been either converted into maskelynite or contains planar deformation features (PDFs). Only shock metamorphism caused by a hypervelocity impact could either have transformed plagioclase into maskelynite or created PDFs in it. The impact origin of Lonar Crater is further substantiated by the presence of shatter cones; impact deformation of basalt layers comprising its rim; shocked breccia inside the crater; and a nonvolcanic ejecta blanket surrounding the crater.