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5d ago

Scottish Meteorite Impact Re-Dated to 990 Million Years Ago, Tied to Early Life on Land

New geochronological analysis confirms the Stac Fada impact's younger age and its potential role in shaping Earth's early freshwater ecosystems.

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Asteroid impact. Illustration of a large asteroid colliding with Earth on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This impact is believed to have led to the death of the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago. The impact formed the Chicxulub crater, which is around 200 kilometres wide. The impact would have thrown trillions of tons of dust into the atmosphere, cooling the Earth's climate significantly, which may have been responsible for the mass extinction. A layer of iridium- rich rock, known as the K-Pg boundary, is thought to be the remnants of the impact debris.

Overview

  • The Stac Fada meteorite impact in northwestern Scotland has been re-dated to 990 million years ago, 200 million years younger than previously thought.
  • Researchers used zircon and reidite crystals as geological 'time capsules' to pinpoint the revised age of the impact.
  • The event coincides with the emergence of early freshwater eukaryotes, raising questions about meteorite impacts influencing non-marine ecosystems.
  • Shock-altered minerals in the Stac Fada Member confirm the high-energy impact, with similarities to sites like Chicxulub and Sudbury.
  • Efforts are ongoing to locate the impact crater, which remains undiscovered, while studying its broader implications for life and Earth's environment.