A MYSTERIOUS NEW UNDERWATER CRATER IN UTAH - Collapsing soil may hav triggered small eruption

Not really huge, but what caused it?

The crater was discovered last month by Gary Dalton of Circleville after he saw an unusual hole beneath the water

Theories ranged from Martian art to a volcanic eruption– but geologists believe there could be a simpler answer

Scientists looking at the crater in Circleville, Utah, claim it was caused by a condition called 'collapsible soils' 

The pond has been drained and refilled more than a dozen times in the last two years, causing the soil to give way

'As it collapsed and compacted,' said geologist Bill Lund. 'It forced some air and some water up and created this thing. It looks like a one-off thing'

 Photo - The central depression is about 17.8cm (7in). The Dalton family were able to push the handle of a pitchfork another 33cm (13in) or so straight down in the soft centre (AP - Daily Mail)

Theories so far:

Some had speculated that the feature was caused by a natural spring, pushing up from under the pond after being supercharged by recent rains. 

 

Another theory was that a buried pipeline had been punctured during construction of the pond. But experts said there is no pipeline. 

 

Scientists then proposed that there was a burp of methane gas from decaying organic material under the pond.

 

Earthquakes sometimes will cause similar features in sand or mud, due to liquefaction of soils. But there have no earthquakes in the Circleville area powerful enough.

 

The leading theory is a geologic condition called collapsible soils. It suggests that the repeated loading of weight on the soil eventually led some of the soil under the pond to collapse, creating a small eruption.

 

 

Read more - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2740487/What-created-mystery-crater-Utah-Underwater-hole-collapsing-soil-causing-small-eruption.html

 

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