Zhamanshin crater, Impact crater in Aktobe Region, Kazakhstan.
Zhamanshin crater is an impact structure in the Aktobe Region with a diameter of roughly 14 kilometers. The walls display exposed rock layers that document the effects of the meteorite collision on Earth's surface.
Scientists confirmed this crater as an impact site in 1977 and traced its formation to approximately 900,000 years ago. The event occurred during the Middle Pleistocene, a period of significant environmental change on Earth.
The crater draws researchers from multiple scientific disciplines who study its geological composition to understand the mechanisms of extraterrestrial impacts.
The crater sits roughly 200 kilometers north of the Aral Sea and about 40 kilometers southwest of Irgiz settlement. A visit requires specialized transport due to the remote location and limited road connections to the site.
The site contains blue glass samples and specific minerals that formed under extreme pressure conditions. These materials are rare evidence of the intense heat released during the impact event.
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