Geology and Geomorphology of the Ramgarh Impact Crater, India

Abstract: The Ramgarh structure in southeastern Rajasthan has long been proposed as a terrestrial impact crater, yet its origin and post-formational evolution remain debated. Here the research paper integrates high-resolution satellite geomorphology, targeted field mapping, petrographic analyses and structural measurements to refine its geological framework. The circular, ~3.5-km-wide basin exhibits a prominent annular ridge, asymmetric rim uplift and inward-dipping strata, consistent with a modified simple-to-complex transitional crater morphology. Sandstone breccias, shatter-fractured quartz, and cataclastic zones occur along the inner rim, whereas the crater floor preserves lacustrine–fluvial infill that records long-term sedimentary reworking. Drainage deflection, radial–concentric lineaments and persistent slope asymmetry indicate significant post-impact erosion superimposed on the primary crater architecture. Our results clarify the structural configuration and geomorphic evolution of the Ramgarh Crater, strengthening its interpretation as an eroded impact structure and providing a baseline for future geochronological and shock-metamorphic investigations.