Scientists find ‘smoking gun’ evidence of world’s oldest meteorite strike in Western Australia
Summary
Scientists have found clear evidence of the oldest meteorite impact on Earth, which happened about three billion years ago in Western Australia. They studied special rock features in the Pilbara region to date this ancient crater, offering important insights into Earth's early history.Key Facts
- The meteorite strike occurred during the Archean eon, 4 to 2.5 billion years ago.
- The impact site is in the North Pole Dome crater, Western Australia.
- Scientists analyzed shatter cones, zircon crystals, and apatite minerals to determine the impact date.
- Zircon crystals showed patterns caused by intense heat from the meteorite strike about 3 billion years ago.
- Apatite minerals formed in rock fractures caused by heat and fluids after the impact, confirming timing.
- This crater is older than the previously known oldest crater, Yarrabubba, which is 2.2 billion years old.
- At that time, Earth was mostly covered by water, the sun was dimmer, and early life like stromatolites existed.
- Meteorite impacts were common in the Archean era, but most evidence on land has been erased over time by geological processes.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.