Sudbury Basin

The Sudbury Basin (/ˈsʌdbəri/), also known as Sudbury Structure or the Sudbury Nickel Irruptive, is a major geological structure in Ontario, Canada. It is the third-largest known impact crater or astrobleme on Earth, as well as one of the oldest. The crater was formed 1.849 billion years ago in the Paleoproterozoic era.

Sudbury Basin
Sudbury Structure
NASA World Wind satellite image of the Sudbury astrobleme
Impact crater/structure
ConfidenceConfirmed
Diameter130 km (81 mi)
Age1849 Ma
Paleoproterozoic
ExposedYes
DrilledYes
Bolide typeChondrite
Location
Coordinates46°36′N 81°11′W
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
Location of the crater in Canada

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.

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