Understanding the Engineering Behavior of Soil from an Impact Crater, India

Channabasavaraj.W

Lonar crater is an impact crater created by a meteor impact during the Pleistocene Epoch. Due to this, a lake called Lonar Lake, was formed, which lies in a basalt impact structure and is both saline and alkaline in nature. Geologists, ecologists, archaeologists, naturalists, and astronomers have reported several studies on various aspects associated with the Crater Lake ecosystem. Studies in the past are mainly focused on understanding the magnetic and gravitational effect of the crater. In addition, few attempts have been made by researchers to understand the characteristics (viz., chemical and morphological) of these soils. The current study focuses on complete characterization of the soils includes Physical, Chemical, Mineralogical and Morphological characteristics which is quite prudent in comprehending the geological history and external effects (viz., magnetic and gravitational effect of meteor impact) on these soils. It has been observed that the soil from the Lonar Crater is non-plastic to slightly plastic with high rate of swelling; also there is a presence of  a variety of heavy metals and minerals in the soil usually absent on the earth’s surface.