PERTH, Australia – Scientists in Western Australia have made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges our understanding of Earth’s history and the origins of life on our planet.

A team of researchers from Curtin University has identified the oldest impact crater on Earth, dating back 3.5 billion years. This finding surpasses the previous record holder, a 2.2 billion-year-old crater, shedding light on the frequency of large impacts on early Earth.

The identification of the impact crater was made possible through the discovery of “shatter cones,” geological features formed by the immense pressure of a meteorite strike. This breakthrough has significant implications for our knowledge of Earth’s ancient impact history and the potential existence of undiscovered craters.

According to Tim Johnson, a scientist at Curtin University, the prevalence of large impacts in the early solar system is evident on the Moon, but the absence of ancient craters on Earth has led geologists to overlook their significance.

Professor Chris Kirkland, also from Curtin University, highlights the potential of these findings to unveil the environments conducive to early life and the geological processes shaping modern continents. Impact craters like the one discovered may have created habitats suitable for microbial life and influenced the formation of Earth’s crust and landmasses.

The study detailing this groundbreaking discovery, titled “A Paleoarchaean impact crater in the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia,” was published in the journal Nature Communications. This research marks a significant milestone in understanding Earth’s ancient past and the impact of cosmic events on our planet’s development.