View source for Beaverhead impact structure

{{Short description|Impact structure in the United States}}
{{Infobox terrestrial impact site
| name = Beaverhead impact structure
| photo = Beaverhead shatter cone.jpg
| photo_caption = A shatter cone produced by the Beaverhead impact
| map = Idaho
| map_size = 250
| map_caption = Location of Beaverhead impact structure in Idaho
| coordinates = {{coord|44|36|N|113|0|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| confidence = confirmed<ref name="EIDB">{{cite Earth Impact DB | name = Beaverhead | access-date = 2015-01-02}}</ref>
| diameter = {{convert|60|km|mi}}
| age = 600 million years
| exposed = Yes
| drilled = No
| country = United States
| state = [[Idaho]], [[Montana]]
}}
The '''Beaverhead impact structure''' is the second-largest [[impact structure]] within the [[United States|U.S.]] It lies within the states of [[Idaho]] and [[Montana]]. Estimated at {{convert|60|km|mi|sp=us}} in diameter, it is among the largest [[List of impact craters on Earth|impact structures on Earth]].

With an estimated age of 600 million years ([[Neoproterozoic]]), the impact's original [[shatter cone]]s along the impact structure's perimeter provide some of the structure's only remaining visible evidence.

It is named for the [[Beaverhead County, Montana|Beaverhead]] region of southwestern Montana in which it was first discovered.

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|Idaho}}}}
* [[Chesapeake Bay impact crater]]
*[[List of impact craters in North America]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Carr, J and Link, PK, 1999, Neoproterozoic [[conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]] and [[breccia]] in the formation of Leaton Gulch, Grouse Peak, northern [[Lost River Range]], Idaho: Relation to Beaverhead Impact Structure, in Hughes, S.S., and Thackray, G.D., eds., ''Guidebook to the Geology of Eastern Idaho'': Pocatello, Idaho Museum of natural History, p.&nbsp;21-29.
* [http://craterexplorer.ca/beaverhead-impact-structure/ Aerial Exploration of the Beaverhead crater]

{{Idaho}}
{{Impact cratering on Earth}}

[[Category:Proterozoic impact craters]]
[[Category:Impact craters of the United States]]
[[Category:Landforms of Idaho]]
[[Category:Landforms of Beaverhead County, Montana]]


{{LemhiCountyID-geo-stub}}
{{BeaverheadCountyMT-geo-stub}}
{{US-geology-stub}}