Ouarkziz
Key facts
- Country
- Algeria
- Diameter
- 3.5 km
- Age
- less than about 70 million years
- Location
- 29.00° N, 7.55° W
A round structure about 3.5 km across in the desert of Tindouf Province, western Algeria, near the border with Morocco, marked by rings of eroded sedimentary rock.
Ouarkziz is an eroded impact structure about 3.5 km across in the desert of Tindouf Province, western Algeria, close to the border with Morocco.
What it hit. The impactor struck a sequence of Carboniferous sedimentary rocks, mainly sandstones, shales and limestones. Erosion has since worn the structure down, leaving rings of tilted and broken rock around a central area.
Discovery and proof. The round structure was noticed on aerial photographs and satellite images. Geologists found shatter cones, cone-shaped fractures produced only by shock, and other evidence of shock, which confirmed an impact.
Age. The age is poorly known. It is usually given as less than about 70 million years.
Why it matters. Ouarkziz is one of several impact structures in the Algerian Sahara, along with Amguid, Talemzane and Tin Bider. The desert's dry climate and lack of vegetation make these structures easy to see from space. The impactor is unknown.
Visiting. The area is remote desert close to a sensitive border. Check travel advice before going.
Did you know?
Ouarkziz lies close to the border between Algeria and Morocco.
Shatter cones confirmed it as an impact structure.
It is one of four impact structures in the Algerian Sahara.