The Arkenu structures, also known as the Arkenu craters, are a pair of prominent circular geological structures in eastern Libya. The structures are approximately and in diameter, and lie about west of Jabal Arkanu on the eastern margin of the al-Kufrah Basin.

It has been argued that both structures were formed by simultaneous meteorite impacts. Field investigations by Dr. P. Paillou, Dr. A. Rosenqvist, and others reported the presence of impact breccias at the structures' bottoms, shatter cones pointing toward the center of the structures, and microscopic planar deformation features found in quartz grains of sandstones outcropping in the structures. Based on these reports and other observations, it was proposed that both structures are extraterrestrial impact craters that were formed simultaneously as a double impact event less than 140 million years ago (Jurassic or younger). As a result of this research, the Arkenu structures were removed from and are currently not listed in the Earth Impact Database.

References

  • Brügge, N. (2012) Remarks to the origin of the craters around Gilf Kebir and Djebel Uweinat (Egypt)and the supposed impact craters of Libya,
  • Di Martino, M. (2010) Impact and non-impact craters in eastern Sahara INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino Talk of the "International Workshop on Paolo Farinella (1953-2000): the Scientists, the man", Pisa, 14–16 June 2010
  • Willis, K. J. (2008) Arkenu Craters, Libya : Image of the Day. Earth Observatory, EOS Project Science Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.