Eugene Shoemaker’s Research Proved Impact

NASA Public domain image of Eugene Shoemaker (Media Link)

Daniel Moreau Barringer, a mining engineer, first heard about the crater in 1902, and was convinced by meteoritic iron fragments reported by his colleagues on the site, that the crater was formed by an iron/nickel meteorite. While he never doubted it, it was not proven until 62 years later!

Eugene Shoemaker’s research publication in 1963 after discovering a mineral at the crater produced only by the most extreme heat, provided the clinching arguments in favor of an impact, finally convincing the last doubters (and scientific community) and validating Barringer’s original claim.