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Ancient Meteorite Impact ("Fertilizer Bomb")
Context
Around 3.26 billion years ago, a massive meteorite struck Earth, causing catastrophic destruction. This meteorite was estimated to be 23 to 36 miles wide (37 to 58 km), making it 50 to 200 times the size of the asteroid that caused the dinosaurs' extinction. Despite the devastation, this event may have actually helped early life on our planet.
About
- The meteorite (named S2) was a type called a carbonaceous chondrite that is rich in carbon and also contains phosphorus.
- Its diameter was approximately 23-36 miles (37-58 km), making it about 50-200 times the mass of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, aside from their bird descendants.
- It was the size of four Mount Everests.
- Before the S2 meteorite struck Earth, the planet was still young and looked different compared to today.
- It was mostly a water world with only a few landmasses sticking out of the sea, and life consisted of simple, single-celled microorganisms.
- The Impact: The meteorite was a carbonaceous chondrite, rich in carbon and phosphorus.
- Immediate Effects: The impact was incredibly powerful, vaporizing the rock it hit and creating a cloud of dust that darkened the sky. This would have led to a tsunami and caused severe heating, with upper ocean layers starting to boil.
- Destruction of Life: The initial aftermath would have wiped out many microorganisms that relied on sunlight, particularly those in shallow waters.
- The colossal impact wiped T-Rex and Stegosaurus from the face of Earth and reshaped the course of evolution.
- Benefits: Despite the destruction, the impact delivered essential nutrients to the environment:
- Nutrients Delivered: The meteorite brought phosphorus, a crucial nutrient for life, especially for the molecules that store and transmit genetic information.
- Mixing of Waters: The tsunami mixed iron-rich deep waters with shallow waters, creating conditions favorable for microbial life, as iron provides energy for many microorganisms.
Fact Box: Meteorites
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