Researchers identify potentially ancient asteroid impact site in Western Australia
A study of a crater in the Pilbara region suggests it may be Earth's oldest known asteroid impact site. Scientists remain divided over the specific age of the formation.
Amalgamated from Indian Express (opens in new tab), Space.com (opens in new tab), The Independent (opens in new tab), New Scientist (opens in new tab)
Research conducted in Western Australia has identified a structure that may be the oldest known asteroid impact site on Earth. According to reports from The Independent and Space.com, the crater, located in the Pilbara region, is known as North Pole Dome and has been dated to more than 3 billion years ago.
While the area was previously identified as an ancient impact crater, its specific age remained uncertain until recent studies were conducted. The identification of this timeframe provides a new point of reference for researchers studying early geological history and planetary impacts.
However, the exact age of the site is not universally agreed upon by the scientific community. Reports from New Scientist and the Indian Express indicate that while some studies claim the crater dates back three billion years, other experts dispute these findings. This difference in reporting highlights a lack of consensus among researchers regarding the dating methods or geological evidence used to determine the age of the North Pole Dome.