The discovery bolsters the theory that meteorite impacts played an important role in Earth's early geological history

Researchers say they have found "unequivocal evidence" that a meteorite smashed into Earth 3.47 billion years ago, potentially affecting plate tectonics and creating conditions for life.

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified the world's oldest known meteorite impact crater in Western

The oldest meteorite impact crater on Earth (3.5 billion years old) has been discovered in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

A rocky stretch in Western Australia's Pilbara, near Earth's earliest-confirmed lifeforms, was hit by a meteorite about 3.5 billion years ago.

Led by Curtin University geologists Chris Kirkland and Tim Johnson, a research team unearthed this primeval crater beneath rock layers in the East Pilbara Terrane of Western Australia. The oldest Archaean crater before this discovery went back only 2.2 billion years.

Previously, the Vredefort Dome had been the only dated impact structure. The 2 billion-year-old crater can be found in South Africa and is also the world’s biggest at over 155miles across.

Researchers found the world’s oldest impact crater in Western Australia. The crater was created by a massive meteorite impact.

Scientists have found the oldest impact crater on Earth – and it changes our understanding of our planet and the origins of life.

Scientists published the discovery of a 3.5-billion-year-old meteorite impact crater, making it the oldest known by more than a billion years.