Did the Largest Meteorite in History Crash into India 4000 Years Ago? Massive Crater Suggests Yes

In a recent discovery, scientists propose that a 1.8-kilometre-wide depression known as the Luna structure might have been formed by the impact of the largest meteorite to strike Earth in the past 50,000 years.

This meteorite, resembling a fireball, potentially initiated wildfires and powerful shockwaves that likely affected an area inhabited by people of the ancient Indus Valley civilization thousands of years ago.

Gordon Osinski, from Western University in Canada, likened the impact to a nuclear explosion in terms of its destructive force, albeit without the radioactive fallout, as reported by NewScientist.

Local residents in the Indian state of Gujarat have long been aware of the Luna structure, a 1.8-kilometre-wide crater.

Previous examinations of the Luna structure suggested an impact origin, but conclusive evidence was lacking in earlier studies. Recently, researchers led by KS Sajinkumar from the University of Kerala conducted a more detailed investigation of the crater.

Geochemical analysis revealed a significant presence of iridium in the soil, indicating that the impact could have been caused by an iron meteorite.

David King, from Auburn University in Alabama, who was not involved in the study, acknowledged that while the geochemical findings align, the team has yet to definitively prove the crater’s existence. He emphasized the importance of finding superheated rocks that melted due to the impact’s energy to confirm its origin.

Sajinkumar and his team managed to excavate a trench during the dry season but plan to search for such evidence in the future, acknowledging that their current study represents just the beginning of their research.

Despite the absence of conclusive evidence, Osinski expressed confidence in the impact theory based on other supporting evidence, commending the researchers for their work with the available samples.