In recent days, news has circulated in the media that there may be first meteorite impact in Spain. Currently, there is not a single confirmed one in our country, and in fact, only about 200 such craters have been cataloged throughout the world. This would make the news very exciting if it were true. However, it is important to note that currently you can’t be sure that the area is analyzed in province of Almeria contain this effect. Does that make it less exciting? Of course not.
This type of research is very interesting for all that it entails. Which of this group of scientists, natives of University of Almería, Madrid Center for Astrobiology, University of Lund and University of Copenhagenis promising for several reasons, including the presence of a form of quartz that occurs under conditions of pressure and temperature that correspond to only two phenomena: a meteorite impact or a nuclear bomb.
So far, the results have only been presented at the Europlanetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2022, which took place in Granada. They need to collect more data to be able to publish the results and confirm that this is indeed the case. impact crater. In short, there is still much to be explored, and caution is needed here. However, what could delay this wait is exciting.
Possible impact crater at Almería
The discovery that has just been presented at the congress is the result of 15 years of research. This was not easy, as the proposed crater is buried in more recent deposits. A part was exposed as a result of erosion, but it is logical to assume that hinders investigation.
However, at this time and based on the results of previous studies, they have been able to find evidence that leads them to believe that this is an impact crater. Geophysical surveys are still ongoing, but they already have two indicators that are usually associated with meteorite impact. On the one hand, the presence shocked quartz. These are those in which, when taking a thin layer of quartz and observing it under a microscope, a displacement along the crystallographic planes is observed, which can only be caused by a large and sudden increase in temperature and pressure.
The temperature reached in eruption It may be enough, but there is no pressure. Therefore, this natural phenomenon is excluded when observing these features in the breed. Now, by convention, for a crater to be considered the result of a meteorite impact, 20 such impact grains of quartz must be found. This allows a statistical test to be established that rules out that there may indeed have been confusion in the analysis. As explained hypertext lead author of the study, Juan Antonio Sanchez Garridoat the moment they are confirmed the presence of 6.
On the other hand, another geological structure commonly associated with meteorite or nuclear bomb impacts is split cones. These scientists were also able to observe these structures in their possible impact crater. However, while in a private career, they have certain access issues to be able to continue exploring this second clue.
What should be the crater?
In the absence of a way to confirm that this is indeed the result of a meteorite impact, these scientists believe that the crater must have some 4 kilometers in diameter, although it will be surrounded by a larger structure about 20 kilometers long, where the impact will cause the sediment layers to collapse. As for age, it can be about a few 8 million years.
Why should data be treated with caution?
There is currently no confirmed impact crater in Spain, not even this one. But there have been other proposals before. One of them, in city of Azuara, in Zaragoza, made dozens of headlines in 1997. It has even been claimed that this is the result of an asteroid impact. However, after much debate with experts in the field, it was ruled out that this was the case.
It is for this reason, and for other similar cases ruled out around the world, that there are many requirements for accepting an impact crater as such. And the fact is that in fact there are many phenomena that can give rise to confusion.
On the one hand, as explained hypertext geologist and astrobiologist, meteorite specialist Jesus Martinez Friastearing and other obvious impact effects can be caused purely tectonic reasons. In addition, with regard to shocked quartz, he points out that sometimes “minerals are deformed on a small scale and microtectonic textures are formed, which can lead to confusion“. It is for this reason that statistical studies should be carried out with a minimum number of impact quartz grains.
In short, although, according to Martinez-Frías, it is “interesting and new hypothesis‘, we must treat this with great care.
What if it really was a meteorite?
“Meteorite is the source of life and could be the end of life, the main source of carbon we have on Earth could come from meteorites, and from them also comes the presence of many highly coveted noble metals.”
With these words, Sanchez Garrido emphasizes the importance of what could have at the scientific levelI confirm that what they found in Almeria is an impact crater. In addition, one of his colleagues in the investigation, Sebastian Sanchez Gomezadds that it could be very relevant for empowerment scientific tourism in this province. “The prospect of not going to Mars for a walk is pleasant.”
Now it remains to wait. What they presented at the congress should be submitted to a scientific journal and, after review by reviewers, published. If it meets the necessary requirements, we can talk about an impact crater with all the ensuing consequences. Meanwhile, the authors of the investigation themselves insist hypertext in importance speak in a conditional
This is the magic of science. Sometimes it’s hard to reach those exciting milestones that we imagine in our heads. But precisely because of how difficult it is to achieve them, when they are finally fulfilled, there is no need to talk about charm. Let’s wait to see if that’s the case.
Source: Hiper Textual
