Researchers from Curtin University in Australia have discovered what they believe to be the oldest known impact crater on Earth, located in the Pilbara Craton region of Western Australia. The discovery, published in Nature Communications, is a significant find that sheds new light on the early history of our planet.
The impact crater, estimated to be around 3.6 billion years old, was formed when a meteorite struck the Earth’s surface at an incredible speed of over 36,000 km/h. The powerful impact created a massive shockwave that would have affected the entire globe, scattering debris and creating a region of intense heat.
The team, led by Professor Tim Johnson, used advanced techniques to identify the presence of shatter cones in the rock samples from the study area. Shatter cones are rare features that form only under extreme conditions, such as impact craters or nuclear explosions. The discovery of these cones provided conclusive evidence of the impact’s existence.
The age of the impact crater was determined by dating the layer above where the shatter cones were found. This layer is known to be 3.5 billion years old, suggesting that the impact occurred around the same time period as the formation of this geological feature.
The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the Earth’s ancient history, particularly in relation to the formation of continents and crusts. The team believes that the impact played a key role in shaping early Earth’s crust by pushing one part of the crust beneath another or forcing magma to rise from deep within the Earth’s mantle towards the surface.
Furthermore, the discovery suggests that ancient impacts may have provided an initial nudge for life to emerge on our planet. The heat generated by these events could have created environments rich in chemistry and minerals, which are critical for the emergence of microbial life.
While this is a significant find, it is essential to note that further research is needed to confirm the discovery and its implications. Nevertheless, the discovery of this ancient impact crater offers a fascinating glimpse into the early history of our planet and has the potential to rewrite our understanding of Earth’s ancient past.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-worlds-oldest-impact-crater-has-been-found-in-australia