A giant asteroid hit Australia 11 million years ago. So where is the crater?

Scientists have discovered an asteroid impact previously unknown hidden in tiny fragments of glass dispersed through South Australia.

Scientists at the University of Curtin contributed to the discovery of evidence of a massive asteroid strike and previously unknown, revealed not by a crater but by tiny fragments of glass found only in Australia.

These fragments are tektites, a rare type of natural glass which forms when an asteroid collides with the earth, heating and merging the rocks of surface before throwing them over large distances. So far, this newly identified variety of Tektites has only been discovered in a region largely in Australia-Meridional.

According to the co-author, Professor Fred Jourdan of the Earth School and the Planetary Sciences of Curtin, discovering a new Tektite field, is like opening a new chapter of the dramatic geological history of the planet.

“These glasses are unique to Australia and have recorded an ancient impact event that we did not even know,” said Professor Jourdan.

“They formed when an asteroid struck the earth, melting the surface rock and diffusing debris over thousands of kilometers. These tiny pieces of glass are like few time capsules at the bottom of the history of our planet.

“What makes discovery even more intriguing is that, although the impact must have been immense, scientists have not yet located the crater.

“Understand when and how much big asteroids have struck the earth also helps us to assess the risk of future impacts, which is important for planetary defense.”

Unusual chemistry and age

The main author Anna Musolino, doctoral student at Aix-Marseille University, said the glasses were distinct from all other known Tektites.

“These tektites are unique because of their unusual chemistry and their age, which represents around 11 million years,” said Musolino.

“They record an impact event completely separated from the famous Tektite Australas field.

“While the Australastian tektites were formed about 780,000 years ago and are distributed in half of the world, these tektites are much older, and their discovery suggests a giant impact previously unrecognized.”

The study was part of a broader research project led by Professor Emeritus Pierre Rochette of Aix-Marseille University and highlights both the destructive power of past impacts and the importance of studying them.

Reference: “A new field scattered Tektite in Australia ejected from an impact crater of volcanic arc ago” by Anna Musolino, Pierre Rochette, Jean-Aalix Barra Earth and planetary science letters.
DOI: 10.1016 / J.EPSL.2025.119600

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