Final answer:
A 10-kilometer-wide crater is most likely the result of a meteorite impact, deduced from similar characteristics found in known impact craters like Arizona's Meteor Crater. The size, shape, and features of impact craters distinguish them from volcanic, tectonic, or erosional features.
Step-by-step explanation:
Considering the given information on impact craters, we can conclude that a 10-kilometer-wide crater is likely the result of a meteorite impact. The way a crater is formed depends significantly on the speed and size of the impactor, with typical craters being 10 to 15 times the diameter of the impacting body. The reference to Meteor Crater in Arizona, which is about a mile across, leaves us with a strong precedent that similarly sized craters on Earth are created by meteoric impacts, not by volcanic activity, earthquakes, or erosion.
As mentioned, older impact craters on Earth can be heavily eroded, making them more difficult to recognize, but their round shape, raised rims, and other characteristic features typically set them apart from volcanic craters or features created by other geological processes. Additionally, impacts large enough to create craters of 10 kilometers or more in diameter are significant events that would leave a clear imprint, unlike the disruptions caused by earthquakes or gradual changes from erosion.