# Cryptoexplosion

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{{Short description|Type of crater}}
In [geology](/source/geology), a '''cryptoexplosion''' structure (or '''cryptovolcanic''' structure) is an explosion of unknown cause.  The term is now largely obsolete. It was once commonly used to describe sites where there was geological evidence of a large-scale explosion within the [Earth's crust](/source/Earth's_crust), but no definitive evidence for the cause such as normal [volcanic rock](/source/volcanic_rock)s. These sites are usually circular with signs of anomalous rock deformation contrasting with the surrounding region, and often showing evidence that crustal material had been uplifted or blown outwards. The assumption was that some unusual form of volcanism, or a gas explosion originating within the crust, was the cause.

The use of the term went away with the rise of the science of impact crater recognition in the late 20th century. Most structures described as cryptoexplosions turned out to be eroded [impact crater](/source/impact_crater)s, caused by the impact of [meteorite](/source/meteorite)s. Today geologists discount former cryptoexplosion theories.<ref name="CB-954">{{cite book
| last       = French
| first      = Bevan M
| title         = Traces of Catastrophe: A Handbook of Shock-Metamorphic Effects in Terrestrial Meteorite Impact Structures
| url           = http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/books/CB-954/CB-954.intro.html
| format        = PDF
| access-date    = 2011-09-02
| series    = LPI Contribution No. 954
| year      = 1998
| publisher = [Lunar and Planetary Institute](/source/Lunar_and_Planetary_Institute)
| location  = [Houston](/source/Houston)
| oclc      = 40770730
| bibcode   = 1998trca.book.....F
| pages     = 120
| asin = B0006R1XF8
}}</ref>

==See also==
*[Impact structure](/source/Impact_structure)
*[Astrobleme](/source/Astrobleme)
*[Impact event](/source/Impact_event)
*''[Traces of Catastrophe](/source/Traces_of_Catastrophe)'', a 1998 reference book

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Volcanoes}}
{{Impact cratering on Earth}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Impact craters
Category:Obsolete geology theories

{{earth-crater-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cryptoexplosion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptoexplosion) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptoexplosion?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.