Tue Sep 10 00:22:00 UTC 2024: ## Canadian Man Discovers Potential Meteorite Crater While Browsing Google Maps
A Canadian man, Joel Lapointe, has stumbled upon a potential meteorite impact crater while planning a camping trip in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region. Lapointe discovered the massive, 9.3-mile-wide (15 km) hole surrounding Marsal Lake while zooming in on Google Maps. Its unusual shape and symmetry sparked his curiosity, leading him to contact geophysicist Pierre Rochette for expert analysis.
Rochette and his team are now investigating the site, which exhibits topographical features strongly suggestive of an impact. Initial analysis of samples revealed the presence of zircon, a mineral known to form under the intense pressure and heat of a meteorite impact. This discovery is significant as the last meteorite impact crater of this size was found in 2013.
“This could be a major find,” stated Rochette, highlighting the rarity of such discoveries. The team aims to visit the site in 2025 for further investigation.
While preliminary findings point towards a meteorite impact, experts are awaiting the results of ongoing tests and analyses before confirming its origin.
According to NASA, impact craters are formed when celestial objects like asteroids or meteorites collide with larger solid objects like planets or moons. Western University’s Tara Hayden, a postdoctoral associate in Earth Sciences, noted that such craters can be incredibly old, dating back millions or even hundreds of millions of years.
The discovery of this potential crater could offer valuable insights into the history of Earth and the solar system. “It could tell us about when it was delivered to Earth,” said Hayden, emphasizing the unique link impact craters provide between our planet and the outer universe.
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