Researchers studying the Hapcheon impact crater found stromatolites, layered rock structures formed by microbial communities and among the oldest evidence of life on Earth. The stromatolites likely formed in a hot, mineral-rich lake created after an asteroid impact millions of years ago. Heat from molten rock beneath the crater probably kept the water warm for long periods, creating conditions for microbes to thrive. Geochemical testing revealed traces of extraterrestrial material mixed within the rock formations and signs of alteration by extremely hot water during the crater’s early stages. The strongest hydrothermal signals appear in the inner layers, indicating formation when the lake was hottest shortly after impact. The crater may have served as a natural incubator for early life and raised questions about whether life’s building blocks involved material from space.
"South Korean researchers studying the Hapcheon impact crater, the only confirmed asteroid crater on the Korean Peninsula, discovered strange layered rock structures known as stromatolites, which are formed by microbial communities and represent some of the oldest evidence of life on Earth."
"Scientists believe the structures formed inside a hot mineral-rich lake created after a massive asteroid slammed into Earth millions of years ago. According to the study, heat from molten rock beneath the crater likely kept the water warm for extended periods, creating what researchers describe as the perfect environment for microbial life to thrive."
"Even more intriguing, geochemical testing revealed traces of extraterrestrial material mixed within the rock formations, along with signs they had been altered by extremely hot water during the crater's early stages. The researchers said the inner layers of the stromatolites showed the strongest hydrothermal signals, suggesting the microbial structures formed when the crater lake was at its hottest shortly after the asteroid impact."
"Dr Jaesoo Lim, lead author of the study, said: 'This is the first comprehensive evidence suggesting that stromatolites could form in hydrothermal lakes created by asteroid impacts. Such environments may have provided favorable conditions for early microbial ecosystems.'"
Read at Mail Online
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