Australasian strewnfield
The Australasian strewnfield is the largest and youngest tektite strewnfield on Earth, covering an estimated 10% to 30% of the planet's surface. Formed by an impact event approximately 788,000 years ago, its exact source crater remains unknown, with numerous hypotheses placing it in Southeast Asia or even further afield. The strewnfield's tektites, along with evidence of Homo erectus activity, offer insights into ancient Earth history and early human populations.
Key Facts
- ›The Australasian strewnfield is the youngest and largest known tektite strewnfield.
- ›It covers an estimated 10% to 30% of the Earth's surface.
- ›The impact event that formed the strewnfield occurred around 788,000 years ago.
- ›The precise location of the source impact crater is unknown.
- ›Archeological artifacts indicate Homo erectus was present in the area during and after the impact.
- ›The strewnfield's material extends across Southeast Asia, into the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Indian Ocean, Australia, and Antarctica.
Tektites
About Australasian strewnfield
The Australasian Strewnfield
The Australasian strewnfield is a vast geological phenomenon representing the youngest and largest known tektite strewnfield on Earth. Tektites are natural glass objects formed from the terrestrial rock melted and ejected during a significant impact event. This particular strewnfield is estimated to cover an astonishing 10% to 30% of the Earth's surface, highlighting the immense scale of the ancient impact that created it.
Formation and Age
Research indicates that the impact responsible for the Australasian strewnfield occurred approximately 788,000 years ago, placing it within the Pleistocene epoch. The precise location of the source impact crater, however, remains one of the most significant unsolved mysteries associated with this strewnfield. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed, with many researchers favoring a location within Southeast Asia, potentially buried beneath volcanic fields or desert sands. Other proposed locations lie outside of Southeast Asia, including in Antarctica, Kazakhstan, and Siberia.
Geographical Extent
The material from this impact event is distributed across an immense geographical area. It encompasses most of Southeast Asia, including countries such as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and southern China. The strewnfield extends eastward to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and westward into the Indian Ocean. Its southern reach includes Australia, even extending to Tasmania. Over time, further discoveries in regions like northern Tibet, Guangxi, and Antarctica have expanded the estimated coverage of the strewnfield to a remarkable extent.
Geological and Archaeological Significance
The Australasian strewnfield holds significant geological importance due to its size and the insights it provides into impact dynamics. Furthermore, its association with early human history is notable. Archeological finds within the strewnfield in southern China have revealed the presence of Homo erectus populations who lived in the area during and after the impact event. Stone tools and evidence of fire have been discovered alongside tektites, suggesting that early humans may have utilized the impact's aftermath, such as local deforestation, to their advantage for tool-making. The potential link between the impact and the Brunhes–Matuyama reversal of Earth's magnetic field has also been a subject of scientific debate, though evidence suggests the events were not contemporaneous.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Australasian strewnfield?
The Australasian strewnfield is the largest and youngest known region on Earth where tektites, small glassy objects formed from the melting and ejection of terrestrial rock during an impact event, are found. It is a significant geological feature resulting from a massive ancient impact.
How old is the Australasian strewnfield?
The impact event that created the Australasian strewnfield is estimated to have occurred approximately 788,000 years ago. This age places it within the Pleistocene epoch.
Where is the source crater of the Australasian strewnfield?
The exact location of the impact crater that formed the Australasian strewnfield remains unknown and is a subject of ongoing research. Many hypotheses suggest it lies somewhere in Southeast Asia, possibly beneath volcanic fields or buried under desert sands, but other locations have also been proposed.
How large is the Australasian strewnfield?
The Australasian strewnfield is immense, covering an estimated 10% to 30% of the Earth's surface. This vast area includes much of Southeast Asia, extending to Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and even parts of the Indian Ocean and Antarctica.
Is there any evidence of early human activity associated with the Australasian strewnfield?
Yes, archeological artifacts, including stone tools and charcoal layers, have been found within the Australasian strewnfield in southern China. These findings indicate that Homo erectus populations were living in the area during and after the impact event, suggesting potential interactions with the impact's aftermath.
Related Impact Craters
Kalkkop
Kalkkop is a confirmed impact crater located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Aberdeen. The impact event occurred about 250,000 years ago, leaving a significant crater that has since been filled with a deep limestone deposit.
Meteor/Barringer
Meteor Crater, also known as Barringer Crater, is one of the best-preserved meteorite impact craters on Earth, located in northern Arizona. Excavated approximately 50,000 years ago by a nickel-iron meteorite, its well-preserved state is attributed to its relatively young age and the arid climate. The crater has been a site of significant scientific investigation and remains privately owned by the Barringer family.
Wolfe Creek
Wolfe Creek Crater, also known as Kandimalal by the local Djaru people, is a remarkably well-preserved meteorite impact crater located in Western Australia. Its pristine condition makes it a significant geological site, comparable to the Barringer Crater in Arizona, and it holds deep cultural importance for Indigenous Australians.