Znaczenie ekonomiczne kraterów meteorytowych

Commercial deposits in impact structures are world-class range resources. They contain the most important resources of copper, nickel, uranium, gold, platinum group elements and hydrocarbons. Terrestrial craters are also sources of mineral waters and building materials, and they can be reservoirs of hydropower. There are three types of deposits in meteorite craters: progenetic – originate before impact, syngenetic – originate during impact, and epigenetic – result from postimpact processes. The estimated number of Earth’s craters suggests that impact structures can be potentially good sources of economic deposits and tourism resources.