[1] More recently, on the basis of field, petrographic, and textural observations, it has been argued that the Arkenu structures are not in fact extraterrestrial impact craters.

Instead, the striations which were previously reported as shatter cones were identified as ventifacts created by wind erosion in sandstones.

These striations are surficial features that are unrelated to fracturing of the sandstone, are consistently oriented with the prevailing Holocene wind patterns, and occur within and outside of, even distal to, both of the Arkenu structures.

Finally, field observations found silicified sandstone dikes and igneous rocks, such as syenite, porphyries, tephrites, phonolites, and lamprophyres (monchiquites) directly associated with each circular feature.

Based on these and other observations, it was concluded that the Arkenu structures are stocks of porphyritic syenitic that have intruded the Nubia Formation to form rather simple and eroded ring dike complexes.