3 billion years old! This Australian crater is the oldest known asteroid impact site on Earth
Researchers have identified a rock formation in Western Australia's Pilbara region as the oldest known asteroid impact site on Earth, dating back 3.02 billion years. By analyzing zircon crystals, scientists confirmed the site provides new evidence regarding the planet's early crust and the potential origins of life.
Why it matters
Understanding the timing of ancient asteroid impacts helps scientists reconstruct the early history of Earth's crust and the environmental conditions under which life first emerged.
Solar System Asteroids 3 billion years old! This Australian crater is the oldest known asteroid impact site on Earth News By Kiona N. Smith published 25 June 2026 "While the site had previously been identified as an ancient impact crater, its exact age remained uncertain."
The article is a straightforward scientific report based on geological findings without political or social framing.
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