The Sultanate of Oman… the discovery of a 60-million-year-old meteorite crater

The Department of Geosciences of the College of Sciences of the Sultan Qaboos University of Oman announced the discovery of a 1,000-meter-diameter meteorite crater in the Mahut province, which is 60 million years old.

Dr. Sobhi Jaber Nasr, professor of earth sciences, is probably 60 million years old, and the diameter of the meteorite that caused this crater to appear ranges from 50 to 60 meters, making it one of the largest shock craters in the Middle East.

This amazing and unique meteorite crater, which is being studied by Prof. Dr. Subhi Nasr with his colleagues in the department, is visible on the surface of Mahut Wilayat in a complex manner, making it one of the most important impact craters. in the world, which will provide the best comprehensive example of meteorite craters on Earth and other planets, like most impact craters on Earth. The land is old and eroded or covered in water or sediment.

In addition to this, the mystery of meteorite craters that left no traces to study is now possible thanks to the discovery of the crater. This unique discovery also provides a rare scientific platform for studying the effects of ground impacts, which was impossible. earlier, making the Sultanate of Oman the second place in its distinction and heritage. Geological, where ophiolite rocks are the first and unique example of the discovery of oceanic crust rocks on their surface, and the role of these rocks in absorbing approximately 100 thousand tons of carbon dioxide per year to help These rocks naturally fight global warming, and the discovered crater shows signs of melting and recrystallization during impact, with the sandstone rapidly heating to over 1200 degrees and then cooling in place, consistent with the impact.

Analysis of rocks in unmolten rock masses shows the presence of impact minerals such as quartz crystals with a characteristic pattern of parallel flat cracks resulting from shock waves passing through the bedrock, and the presence of the mineral cocyte, in addition to this, indicates a major asteroid impact. hitting the region.

On the other hand, the analysis results showed tear-shaped glass fragments and glass fragments perforated by small holes formed from gas bubbles. The site is expected to contain some minerals and become an important destination for domestic tourism, international science, and national heritage.

Source: Sultan Qaboos University website.

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