Key facts
- Scientists are drilling 500 meters into Spain's only internationally recognized meteorite crater.
- The crater is located in Almería province and was formed by an impact 8 million years ago.
- The research aims to understand geological processes related to meteorite impacts.
- Findings may provide insights into the geology of Mars and the Moon.
- Researchers are searching for 'shocked quartz' as evidence of the impact's intensity.
Researchers are undertaking a deep drilling project, extending 500 meters into Spain's sole internationally recognized meteorite crater, located in the Almería province. This initiative, focused on an impact event that occurred approximately 8 million years ago, seeks to uncover crucial information about geological alterations and the subsequent filling of the crater over millennia.
The primary objective is to extract core samples that will allow scientists to study the effects of the extreme energy from the meteorite impact on the surrounding rock. A key focus is the search for 'shocked quartz,' a mineral deformation indicative of such high-energy events. The insights gained from this research are expected to enhance understanding of Earth's geological past and provide valuable comparisons with the geological conditions observed on Mars and the Moon, potentially aiding future space exploration efforts.