The South Cliffs
 

The layers of rock all around the crater rim have been uplifted and tilted, however at the south cliffs the rock are vertical.

It has been suggested that the force exerted on the south cliffs was greater because the distance to the focus of the explosion was shorter. If the body of the asteroid came to a stop and released its kinetic energy under the south cliffs they would be closest to the focus.

Barringer was convinced that the remaining body of metal was under the south rim. The drill on the south rim hit something meteoric. The rocks of the south cliffs and rim are also displaced much more than the rest of the rim.