New Impact Crater Discovered in China: Jinlin Crater is Largest of Holocene Epoch

Significant Discovery in Southern China

A team of researchers from Shanghai and Guangzhou, China, has announced the discovery of a massive impact crater in Guangdong Province. Named the Jinlin crater, this newly identified geological feature measures approximately 900 meters (about 2,950 feet) in diameter and is estimated to be less than 10,000 years old, placing its formation within the early-to-mid Holocene epoch. This makes it the largest known impact crater from this geological period, surpassing Russia's 300-meter Macha crater, which previously held that distinction. The findings were published in the journal *Matter and Radiation at Extremes* by AIP Publishing.

Evidence of Extraterrestrial Impact

The identification of the Jinlin crater as an impact structure was confirmed through rigorous scientific analysis. Researchers found compelling evidence in the form of planar deformation features within quartz and feldspar samples from the site. These microscopic structures are formed under immense pressures, typically ranging from 10 to 35 gigapascals, which can only be generated by the high-energy shockwaves of a celestial body impact. Additionally, evidence of shattered granite and melted minerals further supported the extraterrestrial origin of the crater. Lead author Ming Chen, a researcher at the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research in Shanghai, noted that 'This discovery shows that the scale of impacts of small extraterrestrial objects on the Earth in the Holocene is far greater than previously recorded.'

The Impactor and Its Preservation

Scientists have determined that the object responsible for the Jinlin crater was a meteorite, estimated to be about 30 meters across. This conclusion is based on the crater's size; a comet of similar proportions would have created a much larger crater, potentially at least 10 kilometers wide. The exact composition of the meteorite, whether iron or stone, is still under investigation. A remarkable aspect of the Jinlin crater is its exceptional state of preservation. Despite the region's tropical to subtropical monsoon climate, characterized by heavy rainfall and high humidity that typically accelerate erosion, the crater has remained largely intact. This preservation is attributed to its location on a hillside, sealed within a thick layer of weathered granite that protected its structure from the elements.

Implications for Earth's History

The discovery of the Jinlin crater adds a crucial piece to the understanding of Earth's recent impact history. It is one of only about 200 confirmed impact sites worldwide and is the fifth confirmed impact site in China, and the first in the southern part of the country. The impact event is estimated to have released energy equivalent to 600,000 tons of TNT, or roughly 40 Hiroshima bombs, an event that would have dramatically reshaped the local landscape. Traces of ancient human activity found in the vicinity suggest that early human communities may have witnessed this powerful celestial event, offering a unique perspective on the planet's dynamic past.