Earth’s timeline continues to fascinate humanity with ancient wonders and mysteries. About 3.26 billion years ago, during a period of celestial events, the planet was bombarded by meteors. Meteorite “S2” continues to reveal secrets about Earth’s past.
The world’s first oceans and continents
Scientists often wonder: “When did the first oceans appear?” What about the continents? Plate tectonics? How did these celestial collisions shape the evolution of life?”
A recent study has shed new light on these conundrums. It focuses on the impact of the S2 asteroid more than three billion years ago.
The research was led by Nadia Drabon, associate professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Drabon is an experienced geologist of the early Earth with an almost irresistible interest in our planet’s childhood.
His interest dates back to those primitive times when single-celled bacteria and archaea performed alone on Earth and meteorite bombardment was the rhythm of life.
Massive meteorite falls and early life
“Large meteorite impacts must have greatly affected the habitability of early Earth. Researchers recorded at least 16 large impacts in rocks of the Archaean Eon, including objects larger than 10 km in diameter.” he writes. “These effects are likely to have serious, albeit temporary, consequences on the surface environment. However, their effects on early life have not yet been adequately investigated.”
Four Mount Everests were called
The research begins in the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa, where Drabon and his team are following the footprints of the S2 meteorite. Detailed analyzes of sedimentology, geochemistry and carbon isotope composition paint a striking picture of that catastrophic day when an asteroid the size of four Mount Everests crashed into Earth.
“Imagine standing in shallow water off Cape Cod. It is a low energy environment without strong currents. And all of a sudden you get a giant tsunami that sweeps and tears apart the sea floor,” Drabon said.
Meteorites created life on Earth
About 200 times larger than the one that killed the dinosaurs, the S2 asteroid shook the famous pot and caused a tsunami that scattered debris across coastal areas. The tremendous heat created by the impact vaporized the upper ocean layer and heated the atmosphere. This covered the planet in a dense cloud of dust and temporarily stopped photosynthesis.
But in keeping with the immortal spirit of life, bacterial populations recovered. With this revival, the number of single-celled organisms feeding on phosphorus and iron also increased. A real feeding frenzy has begun. This was due to a surge of iron rising from deep oceans to shallow waters, contributing to a massive tsunami, as well as phosphorus runoff and increased soil erosion caused by a meteorite.
Meteorites falling to Earth
Drabon’s analysis found a seasonal proliferation of iron-metabolizing bacteria immediately after the impact. This shift of bacteria in favor of iron is an important piece of our planetary puzzle. It shows how complex life on Earth emerged and evolved.
“We believe impact events are catastrophic to life,” Drabon said. “But what this study highlights is that these effects may have been beneficial to life, especially early on… these effects may have actually allowed life to develop.”
Total paradox, isn’t it? These cosmic influences may not be the grim reaper as often depicted. They can be the harbingers of new life.
far corners of the world
Such an intriguing narrative was made possible thanks to the painstaking work of geologists like Drabon and his team. Their efforts have taken them to the farthest corners of the world; there they searched for traces of chemicals hidden in the rocky layers of our crust. Each layer, like a page in a cosmic book, contains clues about ancient tsunamis and other disasters.
One such geological landmark is the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa. This is a treasure trove of information, containing evidence of at least eight shock events, including S2. Drabon and his team continue to explore this intriguing region and discover Earth’s fascinating history and meteorite fuel.
Next time you look at the night sky, remember that the stars above may not just be beautiful lights. They may hold the key to understanding the origin of life and the formation of our Earth. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Source: Port Altele
