Chinese scientists from the Advanced High Pressure and Technology Research Center in Shanghai have found a giant impact crater left by a meteorite millions of years ago. The research was published in the scientific journal magazinehttps://pubs.aip.org/aip/mre Matter and Radiation at Extremes (MRE).
According to experts, the sinkhole called Hailin is located in the Changbai Mountains in northeastern China. The width of the recess is 1360 meters and the depth is 183 meters.
Scientists suggest that the impact of the space rock caused an explosion with a power equivalent to the explosion of a nuclear bomb.
Traces of the asteroid’s impact were hidden by sedimentary rocks, which is why it was noticed recently.
Researchers noted that they do not yet know exactly when the Hailin crater appeared, but it did not occur before 20 million years ago.
The ideal oval crater is located at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level.
Although part of the eastern edge is missing due to unknown geological processes, the remaining sides are completely intact.
According to the study, the hole contains sediments and rock fragments, as well as evidence of an ancient lake that dried up when the eastern edge collapsed.
Scientists added that the discovery of the Hailin crater and other impact craters shows that meteor impacts of this magnitude on Earth may occur again in the future.
Previous researchers to create There is a multi-kilometer crater at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean caused by an asteroid impact.
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Source: Gazeta
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