Description

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Context

Identification of 3.47 billion year old impact crater in Australia sheds light on how early asteroid impacts may have influenced Earth geological & biological evolution offering key insights into planetary science & astrobiology.

Key Highlights

Scientists have discovered a 3.47-billion-year-old meteorite impact crater in Western Australia Pilbara region making it oldest known on Earth.

The impact structure is estimated to be 100 km (62 miles) wide caused by space rock traveling at 36,000 km/h scattering debris across planet.

The impact may have created hot, mineral-rich water pools possibly fostering microbial life providing clues to how life emerged on Earth.

Geologists identified distinctive shatter cones rock structures only formed by powerful meteorite impacts confirming event authenticity.

The finding pushes back the previous record-holder Yarrabubba impact structure by over a billion years & highlights need to re-examine ancient geological terrains for similar craters.

While discovery is groundbreaking some experts question estimated crater size & its broader implications for understanding early Earth evolution.

The findings were published in Nature Communications emphasizing importance of ancient asteroid impacts on planetary science.

Major Impact Craters Around World

Crater Name	Location	Age (Million Years)	Diameter (km)	Significance
Pilbara Crater (Newly Discovered)	Western Australia, Australia	3,470	~100	Oldest known impact crater, may have influenced early life on Earth.
Yarrabubba Crater	Western Australia, Australia	2,229	70	Previously the oldest confirmed impact crater.
Vredefort Crater	South Africa	2,023	300	Largest verified impact structure on Earth.
Sudbury Basin	Ontario, Canada	1,850	250	Rich in nickel, copper, and platinum deposits.
Chicxulub Crater	Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico	66	180	Linked to the mass extinction of dinosaurs.
Manicouagan Crater	Quebec, Canada	214	100	One of the best-preserved impact craters.
Popigai Crater	Siberia, Russia	35.7	100	Contains diamond-rich deposits.
Mistastin Crater	Labrador, Canada	36	28	Unique because of its lunar-like geology.
Kara Crater	Russia	70.3	65	May have contributed to the Late Cretaceous extinctions.
Boltysh Crater	Ukraine	65.2	24	Possibly linked to the Chicxulub impact event.

Difference Between Meteor, Meteoroid, Meteorite

Term	Definition	Location	Size	Key Characteristics
Meteoroid	A small rocky or metallic body traveling in space.	Space (before entering Earth's atmosphere)	Usually smaller than a kilometer	Originates from asteroids or comets.
Meteor	A meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up due to friction.	Earth's atmosphere	Varies (usually small)	Commonly called a "shooting star."
Meteorite	A meteoroid that survives its passage through the atmosphere and lands on Earth.	Earth's surface	Can range from grams to several tons	Can create impact craters and be metallic or stony.