CROSS SECTION of meteorite impact, as reconstructed by computer simulations, shows how the Wabar craters were created within a matter of seconds. The meteorite flattened as it hit the ground; a shock wave traveled backward through the body, causing part of it to spall off with little damage; the rest of the meteorite melted and amalgamated with sand directly underneath; surrounding sand was compressed into impactite. The whole mess was then thrust into the air. Deeper layers of sand were relatively unaffected.