Uncovering the Chemistry of the World's Oldest Meteorite Impact
Scientists have discovered the oldest known meteorite impact on Earth, which occurred two billion years ago. This impact left behind a chemical signature that researchers have now uncovered, providing insight into the early stages of our planet’s geological history.
The impact occurred in what is now South Africa, and left behind a crater called Vredefort. The crater is so large that it is visible from space, and is the oldest and largest known impact crater on Earth.
The chemical signature of the impact was uncovered by an international team of scientists, who studied rocks from the Vredefort crater. The team used a technique called Re-Os isotope geochemistry to analyze the rocks and confirmed that they came from a meteorite impact two billion years ago.
This discovery is exciting for researchers, as it provides clues to the conditions of Earth two billion years ago. It gives us a better understanding of how the planet formed and evolved over time.
source: Phys.org