18 Surface Processes Across the Solar System
This session welcomes abstracts on any aspect of planetary geomorphology, including but not restricted to: Earth analogues, laboratory experiments, numerical models, planetary comparison, mapping, in situ data, or remote sensing studies.
Monday, 23 March 2026
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CCC, Room 25
Harmonic Oscillators for Predicting Resource Potential in Multi-Ringed Impact Structures
Paper number: 18-7
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM
Authors
Abstract
Multi-ringed impact structures exhibit concentric faulting, folding, radial fracturing, and deep crustal perturbations that often create favorable conditions for hydrocarbon and mineral accumulation. This study examines the nature of complex and multi-ringed impact crater rings whose locations were predicted beforehand using a novel application of the harmonic oscillator function, sin(x)/x, with the √2 ring spacing function.
The harmonic oscillator function, sin(x)/x, perfectly matches the characteristics of oscillation waves emanating from a pebble dropped on a calm body of water. For larger kinetic energy events, like meteor or asteroid impacts, the solid earth oscillates like calm pond water, seismic Rayleigh waves roiling earth’s surface. These waves eventually freezing in place. Although the √2 ring spacing rule for complex and multi-ringed impact structures successfully predicts the locations of crater rings, it does not discriminate whether these rings are due to topography, ring fault terraces, anticlines, synclines, or some other geological phenomena. The harmonic oscillator function, together with the √2 rule, however, does provide sufficient characterization of these ring structures to help identify natural resources-hosting structures.
We integrate SRTM topography, subsurface and surface geology, gravity and magnetics, 2D seismic and tomography, and field observations for the Flynn Creek, Slate Islands, and Vredefort Dome impact structures. The resulting characterizations of ring structures correlate well with known commercial deposits of gold, oil and gas, and other natural resources, and suggest new targets in underexplored crater structures.
Our findings support the hypothesis that harmonic modeling of ring spacings at complex and multi-ringed impact structures can illuminate hidden structural traps and enhance prospect generation in complex and multi-ringed impact terrains. This approach bridges planetary impact dynamics with predictive geoscience, offering a transferable workflow for frontier basin exploration.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 2
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026NE-411092
© Copyright 2026 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.