Ancient Asteroid Impact on the Moon Detected by Scientists

Microscopic Baddeleyite Grains Reveal New Insights

According to НВ — Техно: June 19, 6:00 PM

A team led by Carolyn Crow from the University of Colorado Boulder has discovered that microscopic grains of baddeleyite in the NWA 12593 meteorite were formed by an asteroid striking the Moon roughly 3.5 billion years ago. Using uranium-lead dating, the researchers precisely determined the samples' age at 3.486 billion years.

Examining the NWA 12593 Meteorite

The NWA 12593 meteorite, a fragment of the lunar crust, was found in Mali and acquired by scientists in 2017. This rock is a breccia, and the tiny baddeleyite grains analyzed show evidence of extreme conditions during their formation. Within these grains, scientists identified phases of zirconium dioxide that only form at temperatures exceeding 2,370 degrees Celsius.

These findings confirm that similar asteroid impact events occurred not just on the Moon but also on Earth. Traces of analogous events have been discovered in:

• the Pilbara desert in Australia,
• South Africa,
• the asteroid Vesta.

The research results were published in the scientific journal Geology, underscoring the significance of these discoveries for improving our understanding of our planetary system's history.

Studying meteorites like NWA 12593 provides valuable information about processes that took place in the early solar system. Such research can help scientists understand how planets formed and what factors influenced their development. Asteroid impacts are major events that can alter the evolution of celestial bodies and affect conditions for life on planets, including Earth.

In addition to the findings from the NWA 12593 meteorite, recent research on a fragment from the Sahara has shed light on the dimensions of a long-lost protoplanet. This discovery further illustrates the complex history of our solar system and the significant role that meteorite studies play in uncovering the mysteries of planetary formation. To explore how this Sahara meteorite expands our understanding of celestial bodies, read more about it here.