The research, published in this month’s issue of the scientific journal Tectonophysics, provides geophysical evidence for what may be the largest known asteroid impact structure on Earth. According to the authors, The massive crater is buried deep underground in the southern Australian state of New South Wales.
The asteroid crater, christened Deniliquin, paying homage to the current city in the region, is estimated to be 520 kilometers in diameter; that’s almost double that found in Vredefort in South Africa. The largest and oldest meteor sign ever discovered on Earth.
According to the authors of the paper – Tony Yates and André Glikson of the University of New South Wales -. Structure buried under 4,000 meters of sediment It formed in the eastern part of the ancient continent of Goudwana, which existed from the end of the Paleozoic to the beginning of the Mesozoic, and united the continents that make up the Southern Hemisphere today.
How did the authors obtain evidence of the crater?
To prove their hypothesis, the authors took magnetic readings of the Deniliquin region, revealing a concentric and symmetrical pattern, likely due to extremely high temperatures, which is consistent with what would happen in a collision, according to the study. There are also some magnetic anomalies that read as fractures propagating from the impact point. Continuous rock structures can be cooled and magma can solidify.
Subsequent seismic survey showed a large central dome compatible with other known impact craters. According to the authors, the meteorite’s fall sank the ground, but over time the Earth recovered and filled the depression with sediments. forming a central elevation the size of a mountain.
According to the study, the impact that formed the crater may be related to a geological period known as the Ordovician-Silurian that occurred about 439 million years ago. At a time when 86% of all life on Earth was wiped out. To prove these theories, a deep hole will be drilled through the magnetic center of the structure, and then the extracted material will be dated.
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Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
