Oil exploration work in California’s central valley region has uncovered a space impact crater.
The crater in the news is 5.5-km wide and is buried under shale sediments west of Stockton, in San Joaquin County and researchers have also commented that the crater is aged between 37 and 49 million years.
Data is gathered from a 3D seismic survey of an ancient sea bed and imagery has shown clear presence of a circular structure buried 1,490-1,600m below sea level.
The crater is named Victoria Island and it has a central uplift which is the sign of a space impact.
One of the largest craters in the world is 45-km wide and is on the eastern shore of North America.
The team plans to look for characteristic geological signatures of impact sites in cuttings drilled from wells in and around the structure.
Via: BBC
