The Geologic Formation We Can't Explain; Patomskiy Crater

Within remote Russia is a strange crater in the ground whose origin we have been unable to explain. Is it an impact crater? A volcanic eruption? What about the site of a hydrothermal explosion? This video will discuss each of these possibilities involved with the formation of the strange Patomskiy Crater.

Thumbnail Photo Credit: Google Earth, Image © 2025 Maxar Technologies. This image was overlaid with text, and then overlaid with GeologyHub made graphics (the image border & the GeologyHub logo).

If you would like to support this channel, consider using one of the following links:
(Patreon: http://patreon.com/geologyhub)
(YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYeGh5VML5XPr5jYnzh3J6g/join)
(Gemstone & Mineral Etsy store: http://prospectingarizona.etsy.com)
(GeologyHub Merch Etsy store: http://geologyhub.etsy.com)

Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google & Data Providers

This video is protected under "fair use". If you see an image and/or video which is your own in this video, and/or think my discussion of a scientific paper (and/or discussion/mentioning of the data/information within a scientific paper) does not fall under the fair use doctrine, and wish for it to be censored or removed, contact me by email at geologyhubyt@gmail.com and I will make the necessary changes.

Various licenses used in sections of this video (not the entire video, this video as a whole does not completely fall under one of these licenses) and/or in this video's thumbnail image (and this list does not include every license used in this video and/or thumbnail image):
CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Sources/Citations:
[1] Antipin, V. & Fedorov, A. & Dril’, S. & Voronin, Victor. (2011). The New Data on the Origin of the Patom Crater (East Siberia). Doklady Earth Sciences. 440. 10.1134/S1028334X11100187.
[2] Morozov P, Morozov F, Lazarev M, Bogolyubov L, Popov A. Characterization of Antenna Radiation Pattern and Penetration Depth in Ground Penetrating Radar Field Missions. Remote Sensing. 2023; 15(23):5452. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15235452, CC BY 4.0.
[3] Antipin, V. & Fedorov, A.. (2008). The origin of Patom Crater, East Siberia, from geological and geochemical data. Doklady Earth Sciences - DOKL EARTH SCI. 423. 1335-1339. 10.1134/S1028334X08090018.

0:00 Strange Rock Formations
0:34 Patomskiy Crater
1:08 Cinder Cone?
1:36 Limestone & Gas Emissions
2:45 Meteorite Impact
3:19 Mud Volcano
3:35 Hydrothermal Explosion
4:14 Salt Diapir
4:31 Phreatic Eruption

Видео The Geologic Formation We Can't Explain; Patomskiy Crater канала GeologyHub