Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) have evidence of a huge crater discovered that stretches over 600 kilometers through mainland Australia. If this assumption is correct, it could fundamentally change our understanding of Earth’s geological history.
Crater is said to be 600 kilometers wide
Daniel Connelly and Dr. Arif Sikder from Virginia Commonwealth University believe they have found evidence for the existence of MAPCIS (Massive Australian Precambrian-Cambrian Impact Structure). This is a non-concentric, complex crater. This could provide new insights into the geological and biological evolution of our planet.
“Working on the MAPCIS project has been an incredible journey,” said Sikder, an associate professor at the Center for Environmental Studies, a department at VCU, in an official statement Press release. “The data we collected provides a unique insight into the forces that shaped our planet, and I am excited about the future research this discovery will stimulate.”
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“New ways to understand Earth’s geological past”
According to the researchers, the crater was created by an impact on Earth. This probably occurred in a period ranging between 1 billion and 538.8 million years in the past. The scientists conclude this from numerous geological evidence that they found in the region of the alleged crater. These provide information about the age, size and location of the impact. These include massive deposits of pseudotachylite breccia or melt rock near the crater center.
The researchers found shocked minerals in the deposits, including lonsdaleite, or shocked diamond, as well as iridium at impact height. Conelly summarizes the scientific significance of the likely crater: “Our findings not only underline the importance of this impact structure, but also open up new avenues for understanding Earth’s geological past.”
Quelle: Virginia Commonwealth University
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