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The precise origin of the Wilkes Land Crater remains a subject of ongoing inquiry, but recent research suggests that the event responsible for its formation likely predates the continental drift that shaped our planet’s landmasses.
Scientists have put forth several hypotheses regarding the Wilkes Land Crater’s genesis, including theories that it might very well be a volcanic formation, a sedimentary basin, a valley carved by erosion, or the impact site of a meteor collision, as detailed in a 2015 publication.
Utilizing satellite remote sensing technologies, researchers have meticulously mapped the crater and analyzed its physical characteristics. Within the gravitational anomaly, characterized by a dip in Earth’s gravitational field, they identified areas of positive gravity anomalies. These anomalies are surrounded by an ice layer that forms a ring-like structure, resembling a frozen donut, around the central depression.
The central peak of this formation is believed to be a “mass concentration,” or “mascon.” Such mascons can develop as a result of meteor impacts, where the celestial body strikes the Earth’s crust and influences the underlying mantle. Following a collision, the mantle can rebound and solidify, creating a dense plug that leads to these positive gravity anomalies, according to the study’s authors.further analysis,including a 2018 study,revealed that the Wilkes Land Crater and its associated mascon are not perfectly circular but rather exhibit a U-shaped morphology. These findings lend support to the theory that a meteorite impact was the cause of the crater.
The northern edge of the crater appears fractured, a characteristic that might potentially be attributed to tectonic activity associated with the separation of Australia and Antarctica. The researchers also noted that portions of the crater are discernible in southern Australia.
“If the Wilkes Land crater is indeed a collision crater, it would rank as the largest known impact structure on Earth in terms of its sheer scale,” the researchers were quoted as saying by Live Science on July 30, 2025.
A 2015 study indicated that the crater’s diameter aligns with the estimated speed and size of space rocks that frequently impacted Earth during its early history, approximately 4.1 to 3.8 billion years ago.
“The Wilkes Land Anomaly (WLA) was most likely formed by such a bolide.However, due to the limitations imposed by the overlying continental ice sheet, we acknowledge that alternative explanations for the subglacial structures remain plausible,” the study’s authors explained.
(rns/fay)