Scientists have confirmed that an asteroid struck southern China about 10,000 years ago, creating a massive crater with energy equal to 40 atomic bombs.
The Jinlin crater, located near Zhaoqing city, is the fifth confirmed impact site in China and the first in the southern region. The crater spans about 2,950 feet across and was likely caused by an asteroid roughly 100 feet wide.
According to a study published in Matter and Radiation at Extremes on October 15, researchers found that the explosion released energy equivalent to 600,000 tons of TNT. Chen Ming, a researcher at the Centre for High Pressure Science and Technology, said the impact would have significantly altered the local landscape and environment.
Scientists discovered unique quartz samples at the site with microscopic damage patterns known as planar deformation features—proof that extreme pressure and heat formed the crater. These marks can only result from asteroid impacts, not natural Earth processes.
Due to heavy rainfall in the area, the crater has eroded over time, making it difficult to preserve. Still, its discovery is groundbreaking as the first confirmed impact crater in southern China.
Experts believe further research and carbon dating will help determine its exact age and reveal more about ancient asteroid impacts on Earth.
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