Ames crater
| Ames crater | |
|---|---|
North American Middle Ordovician impact craters, which may be part of the Ordovician meteor event. Key: 1: Ames crater, 2: Decorah crater, 3: Rock Elm Disturbance, 4: Slate Islands crater | |
| Impact crater/structure | |
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Diameter | 10 mi (16 km) |
| Age | 470 ± 30 Ma Middle Ordovician |
| Exposed | No |
| Drilled | Yes |
| Bolide type | Ordovician meteor event? |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 36°17′04″N 98°11′38″W / 36.28444°N 98.19389°W |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| District | Major County |
Ames crater is a meteorite crater (astrobleme) in Major County, Oklahoma, United States. Ames, Oklahoma is near the center of the structure, which is 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Enid, Oklahoma. Buried under a thick layer of sediment, it was not discovered until 1991. Subsequent drilling within the crater found a large amount of oil and gas. It is one of the largest of six meteor craters associated with oil-producing formations in the United States.