Scientists have discovered the oldest meteorite impact crater on Earth in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, dating back over 3.5 billion years. This finding not only claims the title of the oldest known impact crater, surpassing the previous record by more than a billion years, but also strengthens theories regarding the formation of Earth's first continents. The geological community remains divided on the origins of these ancient rocks, with suggestions ranging from hot mantle plumes to meteorite impacts as potential catalysts for their creation.
The crater we discovered is the oldest known, formed more than 3.5 billion years ago, supporting theories about the formation of Earth's first continents.
Geologists are divided on how the first continents formed, with theories ranging from hot plumes rising from Earth's core to modern plate tectonic processes.
Our research suggests that the energy needed to create continents could have come from meteorite impacts, rather than just internal geological processes.
This discovery not only pushes back the timeline for the oldest known impact crater, but also aligns with changing perceptions about how early continental structures emerged.
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