Chinese Scientists Discover the World’s First Summit Meteorite Crater, Measuring 1,400m in Diameter, in the Northeast Region of the Country.
This remarkable finding provides a new perspective for understanding the formation mechanisms of meteorite craters and the metamorphic impacts of collisions in unique terrains and landscapes, as reported by CGTN on September 10, citing Chen Ming, a researcher at the High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research Center (HPSTAR) in Beijing.
Drone photo showcasing the world’s first summit meteorite crater located in Baijifeng National Forest Park in Tonghua, Jilin Province, Northeast China. (Photo: HPSTAR)
“Most asteroids collide with the Earth’s surface, forming bowl-shaped depressions or complex craters with peaks in the center,” Chen stated. With a diameter of 1,400m, the newly discovered crater is situated at the summit of Baijifeng Mountain in Baijifeng National Forest Park in Tonghua, Jilin Province.
Chen further explained that it is a circular depression with an elevation difference of approximately 400m from the highest rim to the lowest. Scientists believe it was formed by a bolide impact that occurred after the Jurassic Period. A bolide is a rare, larger, and brighter version of a typical meteorite that explodes upon entering the atmosphere.
This accounts for the presence of a large amount of rock fragments primarily composed of sandstone, with a small amount of granite, found at the summit of Baijifeng Mountain. These fragments were ejected from the crater during the impact event. The formation of the impact crater also altered the original topography of Baijifeng Mountain, transforming its summit into a double peak with elevations of 1,318m and 1,300m, respectively.
Meteorite craters on Earth are circular depressions formed under the impact of celestial bodies, such as asteroids colliding with the Earth from space. While meteorites are not unique natural phenomena, they are crucial for scientists studying space. To date, over 200 impact craters have been identified and confirmed on Earth, including the Barringer Crater in Arizona, USA, and the Wolfe Creek Crater in Australia. However, meteorite craters are extremely rare in China. The Barringer Crater was formed by the impact of a 46m diameter iron-nickel asteroid over 50,000 years ago and is well-preserved. The initial impact created a crater over 1,200m in diameter and 210m deep, but it is currently only 150m deep due to erosion filling part of the crater, according to NASA. Wolfe Creek, which is nearly circular, is the second-largest crater in the world. Geologists estimate it formed 300,000 years ago when a meteorite weighing over 40,000 tons struck the Earth at a speed of about 15 km/s. So far, researchers have identified approximately 200 impact craters on land, with more than half located in Europe, North America, and Australia. Erosion often rapidly destroys or buries craters in areas with significant tectonic activity, such as near fault lines or underwater. |
