UgandaOklahoma Crater 100 Million Years Younger
New zircon dating suggests the Ames crater may be linked to a major mass extinction event that wiped out 40% of marine life on Earth. The crater's age has been revised to around 370 million years, from a previously thought 470 million years.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have found that the Ames impact structure in Oklahoma is approximately 100 million years younger than previously thought. The new age of around 369.7 million years was determined through uranium-lead dating of zircons.
The revised age places the crater's formation in the Late Devonian period, rather than the Ordovician period as previously believed. This new timeline overlaps with the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction event, which occurred around the same time.
The traditional age of the Ames crater was based on conodonts, tiny tooth-like fossils found in sediments associated with the crater. However, the new research suggests that these fossils may have been deposited in the crater millions of years after the impact, rather than at the time of the collision.
The study's findings do not yet provide a definitive link between the Ames crater and the mass extinction event. Further research is needed to confirm the connection between the two.
The Ames crater is approximately 14 to 16 kilometers wide and is located beneath the town of Ames in northern Oklahoma. The crater is buried beneath sediment and is not visible on the surface.
The new research has significant implications for our understanding of Earth's history and the potential causes of mass extinction events. The study's authors plan to conduct further research to confirm the age of the crater and its potential link to the mass extinction event.
The University of Texas at Austin researchers used radioisotopic evidence to determine the new age of the crater. The study was published in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science.
Key facts
- The Ames crater in Oklahoma is approximately 100 million years younger than previously thought.
- The new age of the crater is around 369.7 million years, placing it in the Late Devonian period.
- The crater's formation may be linked to the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction event.
- Further research is needed to confirm the connection between the crater and the mass extinction event.
Three perspectives
Neutral
The revised age of the Ames crater has significant implications for our understanding of Earth's history. The study's findings will be closely watched by scientists and researchers in the field. Further research is needed to confirm the connection between the crater and the mass extinction event.
Positive
The new research provides a major breakthrough in our understanding of the Ames crater and its potential link to the mass extinction event. The study's findings have significant implications for the field of geology and our understanding of Earth's history.
Negative
The revised age of the Ames crater raises more questions than answers. The study's findings are not yet conclusive, and further research is needed to confirm the connection between the crater and the mass extinction event. The lack of definitive evidence may be frustrating for scientists and researchers in the field.
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