ON THE SIGNS OF THE IMPACT ORIGIN OF THE SOUTH CASPIAN DEPRESSION
The hypothesis about the impact origin of the tectonic cavity of Caspian Sea, which for the first time formulated English astronomer Edmund Halley in the end of XVII century, explains well to the special feature of geological structure and removes contradictions in the interpretation of the history of geological development and contemporary geodynamics of this cavity. In the article the geological signs of the possible impact origin of South Caspian cavity in the Pliocene are given and the corresponding calculations within the framework of the mechanics of crater formation are carried out. On the basis calculations we have shown that a drop in the South Caspian asteroid could occur not further as 6- 7 millions years ago. That arisen thus hypothetical crater originally had about 210 km in the diameter and depth of approximately 30 km. The calculated mass of the fallen asteroid composes from 3,2<sup>.</sup>10<sup>16</sup> to 8,8∙10<sup>16</sup> kgf. Energy of the crater formation proves to be equal to 2,58∙10<sup>25</sup> J. It is necessary for resolution of a question about the lawfulness of Halley's hypothesis: а) to refine the interval of shaping of the red-colored thickness of the deposits of South Caspian cavity dependent on age; b) to investigate the composition of the fragmental material of red-colored thickness for the purpose of the determination of the minerals of space origin.