Sudbury Basin
| Sudbury Basin | |
|---|---|
| Sudbury Structure | |
NASA World Wind satellite image of the Sudbury astrobleme | |
| Impact crater/structure | |
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Diameter | 130 km (81 mi) |
| Age | 1849 Ma Paleoproterozoic |
| Exposed | Yes |
| Drilled | Yes |
| Bolide type | Chondrite |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 46°36′N 81°11′W / 46.600°N 81.183°W |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
The Sudbury Basin (/ˈsʌdbəri/), also known as Sudbury Structure or the Sudbury Nickel Irruptive, is a major geological structure in Ontario, Canada. It is among the oldest- and largest-known impact structures on Earth. The structure, the eroded remnant of an impact crater, was formed by the impact of an asteroid 1.849 billion years ago in the Paleoproterozoic era. The ores of the Sudbury Basin are known to contain nickel, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium.
The basin is located on the Canadian Shield in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The former municipalities of Rayside-Balfour, Valley East and Capreol lie within the Sudbury Basin, which is referred to locally as "The Valley". The urban core of the former city of Sudbury lies on the southern outskirts of the basin.
An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate the discovery of the Sudbury Basin.