About three billion years ago, our planet was a world with primitive oceans and active volcanoes. At this time, the Earth collided with an asteroid whose mass was 200 times greater than the mass of the celestial body that hit the Earth 66 million years ago. A research group from Harvard and Stanford Universities (USA) concluded that this major event affected early life forms and contributed to their well-being.
Traces of the ancient impact, known as the S2 event, are preserved in sedimentary rocks in the Barberton greenstone belt region of South Africa. The diameter of the celestial body that hit the Earth approximately 3.26 billion years ago was between 37 and 58 kilometers. Asteroid impacts were common at the time.
In a research article published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Geologists have revealed the impact the impact had on the environment and early life forms. The so-called S2 event appeared to produce a massive tsunami that mixed iron-rich deep water with surface water, pushing nutrients into shallow waters and altering the chemical balance of the oceans. The tsunami also caused significant changes in marine ecosystems.
“Imagine standing off the coast of modern Cape Cod in an area of shallow water, calm waters, and no strong currents. “Suddenly a huge tsunami comes and destroys the sea floor,” says geologist Nadia Drabon (Nadja Drabon) from Harvard University in the USA.
The impact also darkened the atmosphere: Large amounts of dust and particles temporarily limited sunlight’s access to the surface. This effect probably lasted from several months to several years and led to the death of microsynthesizing microbes, while changes in the chemical composition of the water led to the mass extinction of organisms that could not adapt to the new conditions. However, the S2 event allowed some life forms to develop.
Especially deep sea creatures and thermophiles living in hot springs can continue their life activities calmly. The increased concentration of iron and phosphorus (coming directly from meteorites and soil erosion) in surface waters created ideal conditions for the growth of iron-oxidizing bacteria. Their use of elements that are key to life led to the formation of iron-rich minerals such as siderite, which geologists discovered in the rocks studied.
Thus, despite the catastrophic consequences, the S2 event became a turning point in Earth history and led to the formation of new ecological environments. Increased availability of nutrients may contribute to the emergence of new species.
The results of the study emphasize that such catastrophic collisions bring not only destruction but also new opportunities for the development of life. Scientists will now be able to better understand how microorganisms arise on other planets and how they adapt to changing environmental conditions following such impacts.
“Meteorite impacts are thought to be harmful to life, but our study showed that these events can have positive consequences and contribute to the well-being of life, especially in the early stages of its development,” the authors of the scientific paper wrote.
Source: Port Altele
