Abstract

Meteorite impact structures can provide important information on long-term denudation on the Earth’s cratons. Impact structures in the Fennoscandian Shield contain rocks (i.e., impactites), that have developed during the collision, and, possibly, remnants of the pre-impact sedimentary rocks. The crater depressions may also be filled with post-impact sediments. Sedimentary deposits in impact structures have not been much utilized before in studying the erosion-burial history of the Fennoscandian craton. Here, we use published data on meteorite impact structures to reconstruct the depth of erosion in southern Finland and neighboring platform areas. Post-impact erosion depths were estimated using an empirical relationship derived from well-preserved impact structures. Results support ultra-slow erosion of the basement and sedimentary cover continuing over hundreds of millions of years.