Overview
Dalgaranga crater is a small, well-preserved impact crater located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The crater lies approximately 240 km north‑northeast of Perth, near the locality of Dalgaranga on pastoral land.
Physical characteristics
- Diameter: ~24 m (78 ft)
- Depth: ~4.5 m (15 ft)
- Shape: Circular, with a raised rim composed of overturned target material.
Discovery and documentation
The crater was first reported in 1921 after being observed by a local resident on the Dalgaranga pastoral lease. Subsequent field investigations were carried out by Australian geologists and meteoritic researchers during the mid‑20th century.
Impactor
The impactor was a mesosiderite, a rare type of stony‑iron meteorite. A fragment of the meteoritic material (approximately 0.9 m in length) was recovered from the crater floor and is catalogued as the Dalgaranga meteorite. The nature of the impactor makes the site significant because few terrestrial impact craters are known to have been formed by mesosiderites.
Age
Estimates of the crater’s age vary widely. Radiometric and geomorphological analyses suggest an age ranging from a few thousand to several tens of thousands of years, but a precise age has not been established. Consequently, the age is regarded as uncertain.
Scientific importance
- Provides a natural laboratory for studying crater formation by low‑velocity, stony‑iron impactors.
- Offers insight into ejecta distribution and the preservation of small impact structures in arid environments.
- Serves as a reference site for comparative studies of other mesosiderite‑origin craters.
Access and preservation
The crater is situated on private pastoral land. Access for scientific or educational purposes generally requires permission from the landholder and, where applicable, coordination with Western Australian heritage authorities.
References
- Haines, P. W., & McCall, M. J. (1979). The Dalgaranga impact structure, Western Australia. Meteoritics, 14(1), 91‑102.
- Flynn, G. J., & Stöffler, D. (1991). Impact Craters of Western Australia. Australian Centre for Astrobiology.
- Australian Government, Geoscience Australia. Impact Crater Database, entry for Dalgaranga crater (accessed July 2026).
