World's Oldest Known Impact Crater Discovered in Western Australia

The 3.47-billion-year-old crater provides new insights into Earth's early history and the conditions that may have fostered the origins of life.

Geologists identified the 3.47-billion-year-old crater, named North Pole Crater, near Marble Bar in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The discovery surpasses the previous oldest known crater, Yarrabubba, by more than 1 billion years, providing a rare glimpse into Earth's ancient impact history.
The crater's formation was confirmed by the presence of shatter cones, unique geological features formed under extreme pressure from meteorite impacts.
Scientists suggest the impact may have influenced early Earth's crust formation and created environments conducive to microbial life, such as hot water pools.
The findings highlight the potential for uncovering more ancient craters, which could reshape our understanding of Earth's evolution and early life.