Earth’s Oldest Meteorite Crater Discovered in Australia! 🌍 Exciting news from Down Under! Researchers have found Earth’s oldest meteorite crater, dating back an astonishing 3.5 billion years. Located in Australia’s Pilbara region, this discovery rewrites our understanding of Earth’s early history and the evolution of life.
The massive impact, evidenced by shatter cones, created a 62-mile-wide crater and may have played a significant role in shaping the planet's crust and fostering environments conducive to microbial life.
Tim Johnson, a professor at Curtin University, explains that the intense pressure from the impact generated unique geological formations. This discovery not only provides insight into early Earth but also highlights the scarcity of ancient craters due to erosion and subduction over billions of years.
Analyzing this event helps scientists better understand continental evolution and life’s development on Earth.
Chris Kirkland, co-lead author of the study, emphasizes the importance of such impacts in shaping early Earth's geology. The energy from the impact could have contributed to the formation of large continental precursors known as cratons.
This find may be just one of many ancient impacts that influenced Earth’s geological and biological history.
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