Scientists have discovered the world’s oldest known meteorite impact crater.
The crater was discovered by geologists at Curtin University and the Geological Survey of Western Australia in the Pilbara region of north western Australia. While it’s hard to see directly as a classic crater shape, due to its age, the team found it through other evidence - namely “shatter cones,” geological features that form only when exposed to extreme pressures, like meteorite impacts.
NewAtlas reports that the crater has been dated to about 3.47 billion years ago and is estimated to be at least 100 km (62 miles) wide, which suggests the original object that crashed into Earth was traveling at more than 36,000 km/h (22,000 mph), and would have caused destruction on a global scale.
“Before our discovery, the oldest impact crater was 2.2 billion years old, so this is by far the oldest known crater ever found on Earth,” said Professor Tim Johnson, co-lead author of the study.
That former record holder is the Yarrabubba impact structure, located roughly 800 km (500 miles) south of the new champion.
The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
World's Largest Asteroid Crater: Evidence suggests that the landmass of Australia - specifically under the state of New South Wales - could be concealing a massive, subterranean secret.