Massive meteor crater discovered in northeast China

A team of scientists has discovered a huge meteor crater with a diameter of 1 850 m (6 070 feet) and a depth of 150 m (492 feet) at Yilan in northeast China's Heilongjiang province. The team, led by the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has published the findings on the Chinese Science Bulletin.
Only one-third of the bowl-shaped impact crater is eroded, but the rest of it is mostly well-preserved, said the researchers. The scientists added that most of the pit area is covered by white birch.
The findings also noted that the Yilan crater was formed on Cretaceous granite bedrock. However, the exact date of its formation requires further study.
Meanwhile, the lacustrine deposits at the bottom of the crater indicate that there was once a lake in that area, which disappeared about 10 000 years ago.
Chen Ming, a professor at the institute, said that this discovery of the crater may provide new evidence of low-altitude glaciers in northeast China during ancient times.
Furthermore, this study may also serve as a "natural crater lab" for the future study of planetary science and geology.
According to the Earth Impact Database, there are around 190 confirmed impact craters across the world– including one in the Liaoning province in the northeast of China.
Taiwan ROC political division map Yilan County. Image credit: Wikimedia
Featured image credit: @hansonluu/Unsplash
If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.
Related articles
Your support makes a difference
Dear valued reader,
We hope that our website has been a valuable resource for you.
The reality is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to maintain and grow this website. We rely on the support of readers like you to keep providing high-quality content.
If you have found our website to be helpful, please consider making a contribution to help us continue to bring you the information you need. Your support means the world to us and helps us to keep doing what we love.
Support us by choosing your support level – Silver, Gold or Platinum. Other support options include Patreon pledges and sending us a one-off payment using PayPal.
Thank you for your consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Teo Blašković
Democrats are corrupt. Trying to cover their asses.
Should be a map of Yilan in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, not Taiwan along its South Coast.
Is Young mad at Taiwan ROC designation instead of Taiwan province of PRC, People’s Republic of China? Big political bone to chew if rabid nationalism is to your taste. I’d rather skip the resulting wars.
Your info is useful. Your politics is not.
Mike Young
What politics?