Meteor Hit Oklahoma 100 Million Years Later Than Thought

Topic: Earth Science

Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have re-examined a meteor impact site in Oklahoma. They found that it happened about 100 million years later than previously believed, changing our understanding of Earth's history.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have made an important discovery about the geologic history of Oklahoma. They studied a large crater beneath the town of Ames and found out when it was formed.

The crater is also a major source of oil and gas. For years, scientists thought that the Ames impact belonged to a group of meteor impacts across North America that happened around 467.5 million years ago. This period is known as the Ordovician Meteor Event. Some researchers even suggested that Earth might have had a ring of asteroid debris surrounding it during this time.

However, the UT team used a new method to date the crater. They looked at tiny crystals called zircons found in granite rocks near the impact site. These crystals can preserve information about past events, including extreme pressures and temperatures caused by meteor impacts.

The researchers worked with NASA to image the crystals using special techniques. This helped them confirm that the crystals had indeed been affected by the meteor strike. The team's findings show that the Ames crater is actually around 370 million years old, which is about 100 million years younger than previously thought.

This new information has significant implications for our understanding of Earth's history. It means that the Ames impact is more closely linked to another major event in Earth's past: the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction, which occurred around 372 million years ago and wiped out a large portion of marine life.

Why It Matters

This discovery helps us better understand how Earth has changed over time. It also shows that meteor impacts can have significant effects on our planet's history and ecosystems.

Key Facts

• The Ames impact crater in Oklahoma is around 370 million years old, not 467.5 million years as previously thought.
• The new age of the crater was determined by dating tiny crystals called zircons found in granite rocks near the impact site.
• The researchers used special techniques to image the crystals and confirm that they had been affected by the meteor strike.
• The Ames impact is now linked to the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction, which occurred around 372 million years ago.
• The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of Earth's history and how it has changed over time.

Key Terms

zircons

Tiny crystals that can preserve information about past events, including extreme pressures and temperatures.

Ordovician Meteor Event

A period around 467.5 million years ago when many meteor impacts occurred across North America.

Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction

A major event in Earth's past, around 372 million years ago, that wiped out a large portion of marine life.

Implications

This discovery helps us better understand how Earth has changed over time. It also shows that meteor impacts can have significant effects on our planet's history and ecosystems.