Scientists Discover 390 Million-Year-Old Meteorite Crater on Google Maps
Researchers have identified a potential 390-million-year-old impact crater in Australia using satellite imagery available on Google Maps. The circular geological formation, located in the Northern Territory, is estimated to measure approximately 5 kilometers in diameter, according to findings reported by AndroGeek.
## Geological Significance of the Northern Territory Site
The structure, situated in a remote area of the Australian outback, exhibits the distinct circular morphology typically associated with high-velocity bolide impacts. Geological experts cited in the report suggest the formation dates back to the Middle Devonian period, a timeframe characterized by significant evolutionary developments in terrestrial plants and marine life.
The identification process relied on high-resolution satellite data, which allows geologists to identify anomalous surface features that are often obscured from ground-level observation. The circular depression shows clear signs of erosion consistent with a feature exposed to millions of years of weathering in an arid climate.
## Verification and Field Analysis
While the satellite imagery provides strong evidence for an impact origin, formal confirmation requires on-site geological sampling. Verification of an impact crater typically involves the detection of shock-metamorphosed minerals, such as coesite or stishovite, or the presence of shatter cones—fracture patterns in bedrock created by the intense pressure of a meteorite strike.
The scientific community frequently uses platforms like Google Maps to scout for potential impact sites in inaccessible regions. Once a candidate site is identified, researchers conduct ground-based geophysical surveys, including gravity and magnetic anomaly mapping, to confirm that the subsurface density corresponds to the structural deformation expected from a large-scale collision.
## Current Status of the Discovery
The site remains a candidate impact structure pending a comprehensive field expedition. No official state or federal geological agency has yet announced a formal mission to extract rock cores or conduct the petrographic analysis necessary to reclassify the site from a potential structure to a confirmed impact crater. Until such physical evidence is documented and peer-reviewed, the formation remains under investigation by the geological community.