Scientists Pinpoint the Exact Age of Earth’s Oldest Known Impact Crater

Earth’s Oldest Impact Crater Gets a New Age

According to НВ — Техно: Researchers have confirmed the age of the oldest known impact crater on Earth-the North Pole Dome, located in Western Australia. The revised estimate places its formation at roughly 3.024 billion years ago. This makes the North Pole Dome the only recognized impact crater from the Archean eon on the planet. Earlier estimates had suggested an age of 3.47 billion years, while other scientists proposed it could be younger than 2.77 billion years.

What sets the North Pole Dome apart from other known terrestrial craters is its extreme age; most of Earth’s impact craters are less than 2 billion years old. Before its identification, the oldest widely accepted crater was Yarrabubba, also in Western Australia, which dates back 2.23 billion years. The first evidence of the crater’s impact origin came from the discovery of shatter cones-distinctive rock features formed by high-pressure shock waves.

To determine the crater’s age, the team studied zircon crystals in rocks deformed by the impact and also analyzed apatite crystals, which yielded a result of approximately 3.019 billion years.

Why This Discovery Matters

The Pilbara region, where the crater is found, preserves some of the least altered Archean rocks on Earth. Chris Kirkland, one of the researchers, commented:

“The new date unequivocally places the crater in the Archean-a period when the Earth’s crust, oceans, atmosphere, and early life forms were still developing.” - Chris Kirkland

He also emphasized that “it is currently the only recognized impact crater of Archean age on Earth.” Unlike the Moon, Mars, or Mercury, Earth retains very few ancient craters, making this finding especially valuable for understanding our planet’s geological history and the evolution of its surface.

Even older rocks in Australia and South Africa have yielded tiny droplets of melted material from ancient impacts, pointing to a long history of cosmic objects striking Earth.

This discovery holds significance not only for geology but also for studying Earth’s early history, particularly the processes that shaped its surface and atmosphere. Research on the North Pole Dome could help scientists better understand how cosmic impacts influenced the development of life on Earth and the planet’s overall evolution.