A giant asteroid has hit Earth, but the crater it left is missing

In a hole but in small glass shards that are only found in Australia.

The discovery focuses on a rare natural glass called tektite, which is formed when a meteorite hits Earth with enough force to melt the surface and hurl molten material over vast distances. This newly identified variety of tektite has so far only been discovered in parts of South Australia.

Professor Fred Jordan, co-author from Curtin School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, compared the findings to revealing a new chapter in Earth’s turbulent past.

Professor Jordan said: “These glasses are unique to Australia and recorded an ancient impact event that we did not even know about.”

“They were formed when an asteroid collided with Earth, melting surface rocks and scattering debris thousands of kilometres. These tiny pieces of glass are like little time capsules from deep in our planet’s history.”

“What makes this discovery even more interesting is that although the impact was massive, scientists have not yet pinpointed the location of the crater.

“Understanding when and how often large asteroids hit Earth also helps us assess the risks of future impacts, which is important for planetary defense.”

The glasses are distinct from all previously known tektites, said lead author Anna Mussolino, a doctoral student at the University of Aix-Marseille.

“These tektites are unique because of their unusual chemistry and age of about 11 million years,” Ms Musolino said.

“They record a completely separate impact event from the famous Australian tektite field.

“While the Australian tektites formed about 780,000 years ago and spread across half the globe, these tektites are much older and their discovery indicates a previously unrecognized giant impact.”

The study was part of a larger research project led by Emeritus Professor Pierre Rochette from the University of Aix-Marseille, and highlights the destructive power of past influences and the importance of studying them.

The full paper, “A new tektite-scattered field in Australia exhumed from the impact crater of a volcanic arc 11 million years ago,” was published in Earth and planetary sciences letters.