Impact hypothesis as the cause of the formation of the Mariana Trench and the uplift of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Robert Jan Kütz

My dissertation presents an original hypothesis suggesting that the Mariana Trench was formed by an oblique impact of a massive celestial body on Earth’s oceanic crust, and that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge represents its antipodal geodynamic effect. The hypothesis is supported by calculations of impact energy, simulations of shock wave propagation through Earth's interior, and models of mantle deformation. Evidence includes seismic and gravitational anomalies, the presence of extraterrestrial elements (Ir, Ni, REE), and precise antipodal alignment. The work integrates geophysics, seismology, geochemistry, and planetary modeling, offering a novel explanation for the origin of Earth’s largest geological structures.