A nearly complete, 3.5–4 km diameter, circular topographic high structure occurs as a solitary geomorphic high landform at Ramgarh village in Rajasthan State in north-central India, amidst vast agricultural plains. Known as the Ramgarh (impact) structure, this landform was first noticed in 1869. Although the possibility of its meteorite impact origin was mentioned as early as 1972, it was described as a tectonic “dome structure,” in the absence of any clinching evidence. Geological and geophysical investigations carried out during the last decades have pointed out features typical of a terrestrial meteorite impact, such as a well-preserved circular shape with an uplifted central depression, steep inner slopes of the ridge compared to outer slopes, intense brecciation, fracturing, and faulting, and most important, identification of planar deformation features in quartz, diagnostic of shock metamorphism. Therefore, the structure has recently been recognized as a confirmed “meteorite impact structure” from India and listed in the global database on impact structures. The central depression of the structure is also the site for a tenth century Khajuraho-style temple complex. Besides, there are two cave temples on the inner slope of the eastern rim of the structure, a cultural cum pilgrimage center. The ruins of a fort at the southern outer slope of the structure represent yet another object of archeological/historic interest. The two water bodies in the central depression, filled with the rainwater drained from the surrounding slopes, are the abode for several species of migratory birds. Thus, the “impact structure” provides scientific, archeological, historical, cultural, and biodiversity features of common interest in a unified geographic domain, making an appropriate case for consideration and accreditation as “geopark.” Although the structure is listed amongst 34 geoheritage sites/geological monuments by the Geological Survey of India, the efforts have not been translated into any action on the ground in terms of developing it as a geopark. In this contribution, we provide geological and geomorphological characteristics of this structure, and in conjunction with the other wide-ranging aspects, propose recognition of this well-preserved “meteorite impact structure” as a “geoheritage site/geopark.”

在印度中北部拉贾斯坦邦的 Ramgarh 村，一个几乎完整的、直径为 3.5-4 公里的圆形地形高地结构作为一个孤立的地貌高地地貌出现在广阔的农业平原中。这种地貌被称为 Ramgarh（撞击）结构，于 1869 年首次被发现。虽然早在 1972 年就有人提到它的陨石撞击起源的可能性，但在没有任何确凿证据的情况下，它被描述为一个构造“圆顶结构” . 过去几十年进行的地质和地球物理调查指出了地球陨石撞击的典型特征，例如保存完好的圆形，中央凹陷隆起，山脊的内坡与外坡相比陡峭，角砾岩化，破裂, 和错误, 最重要的是, 鉴定石英中的平面变形特征，诊断冲击变质作用。因此，该结构最近被确认为来自印度的“陨石撞击结构”，并被列入全球撞击结构数据库。该结构的中央凹陷也是十世纪克久拉霍风格的寺庙建筑群的所在地。此外，建筑东缘内坡有两座石窟寺，为文化朝圣中心。建筑物南部外坡的堡垒遗址代表了另一个具有考古/历史意义的对象。中央洼地的两个水体充满了从周围斜坡排出的雨水，是几种候鸟的栖息地。因此，“影响结构”提供了科学的、考古的、在统一的地理范围内具有共同利益的历史、文化和生物多样性特征，为考虑和认证为“地质公园”提供了适当的理由。尽管该结构被印度地质调查局列为 34 个地质遗迹/地质遗迹，但就将其开发为地质公园而言，这些努力并未转化为任何实地行动。在这篇文章中，我们提供了该结构的地质和地貌特征，并结合其他广泛的方面，建议将这个保存完好的“陨石撞击结构”作为“地质遗迹/地质公园”。” 尽管该结构被印度地质调查局列为 34 个地质遗迹/地质遗迹，但就将其发展为地质公园而言，这些努力并未转化为任何实地行动。在这篇文章中，我们提供了该结构的地质和地貌特征，并结合其他广泛的方面，建议将这个保存完好的“陨石撞击结构”作为“地质遗迹/地质公园”。” 尽管该结构被印度地质调查局列为 34 个地质遗迹/地质遗迹，但就将其发展为地质公园而言，这些努力并未转化为任何实地行动。在这篇文章中，我们提供了该结构的地质和地貌特征，并结合其他广泛的方面，建议将这个保存完好的“陨石撞击结构”作为“地质遗迹/地质公园”。