Woodleigh crater, Impact crater in Gascoyne, Western Australia.
Woodleigh crater is an impact structure buried beneath sedimentary rock layers in the Southern Carnarvon Basin in Western Australia. The site extends across a substantial area with multiple geological layers that reveal information about an ancient cosmic collision.
Scientists from the Geological Survey of Western Australia and the Australian National University revealed this impact structure in 2000 through their research. The discovery helped establish the history of collision events in the region.
The surrounding Gascoyne region contains numerous geological formations that provide research opportunities for international scientists studying planetary impact events.
The site is completely underground and not directly accessible to visitors. Those interested in the area need special permits and can only gain information about the structure through scientific drilling projects.
Analysis of drill core samples from 2018 revealed the rare mineral reidite, which forms only under extreme pressure during a meteorite impact. This mineralogical evidence confirmed the tremendous force of the cosmic event.
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