Billion year old meteorite 'influenced early life forms'
The scientists used tiny zircon crystals in rocks as geological "time capsules" to date the meteorite impact.The research has been published in the journal Geology.
Prof Chris Kirkland, of Curtin University, said: "The revised dating suggests these life forms in Scotland appeared at a similar time to a meteorite impact."This raises fascinating questions about whether large impacts may have influenced environmental conditions in ways that affected early ecosystems."He added: "While the impact crater itself has yet to be found, this study has collected further clues that could finally reveal its location."
Prof Tony Prave, from the University of St Andrews, said the impact occurred on a landscape sculpted by rivers, lakes and estuaries with thriving microbial ecosystems.He said: "Impacts typically blow away the land surface and create deep craters. "What makes Stac Fada unique is that it preserves not only the record of the impact event but also of the actual land surface across which those ancient ecosystems existed prior to the impact and, importantly, how they recovered from such a natural disaster."NASA Johnson Space Centre and the University of Portsmouth also collaborated on the research.
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