Chinese scientists have discovered a meteorite crater on a mountain ridge for the first time, as reported in the recent issue of Matter and Radiation at Extremes.
Meteorite craters on Earth are circular depressions formed by the impact of celestial bodies such as asteroids. These meteorites not only captivate nature enthusiasts but also serve as crucial elements for studying outer space, according to experts from the Beijing-based Center for High Pressure Science & Technology Advanced Research.
While more than 200 meteorite craters have been identified and confirmed around the world, discoveries within China have been extremely rare, stated the center.
The newly identified Hailin impact crater is situated in the northern mountains of Hailin, in northeast Heilongjiang Province. This crater, with a diameter of 1,360 meters, has an elliptical shape resembling a large dustpan. The height difference between the highest point on the rim and the lowest point in the crater's center exceeds 100 meters, giving it the appearance of a massive funnel perched on the ridge of a branch of the Changbai Mountains.
“This impact occurred in the late Cenozoic Era, hundreds of thousands of years ago,” explained Chen Ming, a researcher at the center.
This groundbreaking discovery enhances our understanding of the history of planetary collisions and provides new insights into the mechanisms of impact cratering and the shock metamorphic effects on China's unique terrain and landforms, according to experts.
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Chinese scientists discover meteorite crater on mountain ridge
cgtn.com
