Tswaing crater
| Tswaing crater | |
|---|---|
Tswaing crater as seen from above | |
| Impact crater/structure | |
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Diameter | 1.13 km (0.70 mi) |
| Depth | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Impactor diameter | 30 to 50 m (98 to 164 ft) |
| Age | 220 ± 52 Ka |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 25°24′32″S 28°4′58″E / 25.40889°S 28.08278°E |
| Country | South Africa |
Tswaing (Tswana for "place of salt") is an impact crater enclosed by a 1,946 ha nature reserve, situated in northern Gauteng province, South Africa. The crater and reserve are situated on a base of ancient granite of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, some 40 km to the north-northwest of Pretoria (just north of Soshanguve). This astrobleme is 1.13 km in diameter and 100 m deep and its age is estimated to be 220,000 ± 52,000 years (Pleistocene). The impactor is believed to have been a chondrite or stony meteorite some 30 to 50 m in diameter that was vaporised during the impact event. Morokweng impact structure, another South African crater of chondrite origin, lies north-west of Vryburg. Since 1996 it falls under the auspices of Ditsong Museums of South Africa.