Geophysical Signature of the Lake Bosumtwi Impact Crater, Ghana

The Bosumtwi impact structure in Ghana has an age of 1.07 Ma, a rim-to-rim diameter of 10.5 km, and is the youngest large impact crater on earth. It is the source crater of the Ivory Coast tectites (Koeberl et al., Geoch. Cosmoch. Acta 61, 1997). The central part of the structure is filled by Lake Bosumtwi. Marine seismic studies were conducted to investigate crater morphology (thickness of post-impact sediments, depth and shape of central uplift). Refraction seismic (OBH and PDAS seismometer) and multichannel reflection data were collected to image the complex subsurface crater structure. Results from integrated modelling reveal low P-wave velocities in the young post-impact sediments (less than 1.8 km/s) and a prominent central uplift structure about 120 m high. The total thickness of the sediments does not exceed 350 m. Gravity and magnetic surveys complement regional airborne geophysical data across the structure (Plado et al., Meteor. & Planet. Sc., 35, 2000). Gravity data from 160 stations on land around the lake show the expected minimum resulting from the sedimentary filling of the lake, low density impact formations, brecciated and fragmented basement. In the fall of 2001 additional gravity measurements will be carried out on the lake to better delineate prominent anomalies associated with the central structure. The magnetic anomalies are attributed to remanent magnetization of melt, breccias and footwall complex. Further integration of different data sets will help to develop a detailed lithological model of the crater's subsurface structure. The geophysical data confirm that the Lake Bosumtwi structure provides an ideal setting for drilling of a young and large impact crater.