Just ten miles southwest of Odessa lies one of nature’s most fascinating remnants, the Odessa Meteor Crater, the third-largest meteorite crater in the United States. This prehistoric site spans ten acres and serves as a testament to a cosmic event that shaped the region thousands of years ago.
A Trio of Impact Craters
- Odessa Meteor Crater: The third-largest meteor crater in the United States, Odessa’s site is a ten-acre depression formed thousands of years ago by iron meteorites. Its accessibility and historical significance make it a key destination for scientific study and public interest.
- Sierra Madera Crater: Located near Fort Stockton, the Sierra Madera Crater is much older and significantly larger than Odessa’s. Spanning about 8 miles in diameter, this deeply eroded crater dates back approximately 100 million years and showcases complex geological structures from its high-energy impact.
- Marquez Crater: Found near Marquez, Texas, this impact site is an underground feature spanning about 7 miles in diameter. Estimated to be around 58 million years old, the Marquez Crater is concealed beneath layers of sediment but remains a subject of scientific interest.
A Rare Geological Wonder
The Odessa Meteor Crater consists of three craters formed when thousands of iron meteorites, known as octahedrites, struck the area. The largest crater, roughly circular and spanning 500 to 650 feet wide, rises five to seven feet above the surrounding plains. Filled with wind-blown material over millennia, the crater’s depth now ranges from nine to fourteen feet below its rim. Beneath the surface, geological studies revealed displaced Cretaceous limestone lifted and folded by the force of the impact, with the main meteorite mass lying 164 feet underground near the crater’s center.
A Historic Discovery
The site’s significance was not initially recognized. In 1892, local rancher Julius D. Henderson stumbled upon the depression while searching for a lost calf. It wasn’t until 1920 that the connection to meteorites became clear, when Virgil Graham discovered a volcanic-like rock near the depression. Passed around and used as a paperweight, the rock caught the attention of geologist A.C. Bibbins, who identified it as a meteorite fragment.
In 1922, geologist Elias H. Sellards, director of the Bureau of Economic Geology, officially identified the site as a meteor crater during a search for potash in the area. This discovery brought scientists from around the world to study the crater.
Preserving the Crater
Efforts to excavate and study the site began in 1939, funded by the University of Texas, Ector County, and local businesses. The Work Projects Administration (WPA) provided workers for the ambitious excavation project. Although attempts to develop the site into a park were unsuccessful, the crater remains a point of interest for visitors and researchers alike.
Visiting the Odessa Meteor Crater
Today, the Odessa Meteor Crater is home to the Meteor Crater Museum, offering exhibits about the site’s history, geology, and the fascinating story of its discovery. Visitors can explore the crater and marvel at its geological features, a tangible reminder of the power of the universe.
Location:
The Odessa Meteor Crater is located three miles south of Interstate Highway 20 in central Ector County, Texas.
For more information about visiting, contact the Meteor Crater Museum or check out the historic marker onsite for additional details about this cosmic treasure.
Did You Know?
The Odessa Meteor Crater is not only a geological wonder but also a historic site of discovery, with ties to early geologists and researchers who unraveled its extraterrestrial origin in the early 20th century.
