A meteorite impact may have once rained gold on Western Australia – new study
The goldfields in Western Australia. Aaron Cavosie We’re used to a lot of different natural things falling out of the sky. These can include snow, rain, and sometimes even frogs ( yes, really ). All of these relate to weather phenomena. Far more exotic things fall from the sky that are not related to weather. Earth is pelted by about 14 tons of micrometeorites each day . And larger meteorite falls also happen daily , which are visible as fireballs that streak across the night
Scientists have identified a new 4-kilometer-wide meteorite impact crater in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields, near the historic mining town of Ora Banda. The "Ora Banda impact structure" is notable because its target rocks are ancient greenstones, a type of volcanic rock known to contain gold deposits. This discovery was made incidentally during gold exploration drilling in the region.
Initial evidence confirming the impact includes the presence of shatter cones, unique geological formations created by the immense shockwaves from the impact. Researchers are also collaborating with local First Nations communities to establish an Indigenous name for the site, acknowledging its deep cultural history.
This discovery is significant as it could shed light on how meteorite impacts may have influenced the distribution of gold deposits in Western Australia, a region vital to the global gold market.
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