Domo de Araguainha reveals South America’s largest meteorite crater in Goiás and Mato Grosso, with unique history and sights
The Dome of Araguainha holds a cosmic secret inside Brazil. A gigantic meteorite struck the region millions of years ago. Today, the crater reveals clues about Earth’s history. She shows it
The Araguainha Dome attracts the attention of geologists around the world. This immense ring of rocks marks the point where an ancient meteorite struck Earth. Located between the states of Mato Grosso And Goiasin central Brazil, the place remains little known outside academic circles. Nevertheless, it houses important clues about the history of the planet.
Studies indicate that the meteorite impact occurred approximately 254 million years. The research links this time to major environmental changes on Earth. In this way, the Araguainha Dome helps scientists understand how space events influence life here. The region today features farms, small towns and a peaceful landscape, contrasting with a violent past.
What is the Dome of Araguainha and why does it stand out?
The Dome of Araguainha represents the largest impact crater already identified in South America. Surveys indicate a diameter of approximately 40 kilometers. So the meteorite that opened this structure was several kilometers wide. The impact deformed deep rocks and uplifted blocks that today form a large central dome.
People in the area have known about the rock formations for a long time. However, geologists only recognized the meteoric origin in the second half of the 20th century. Shock marks have appeared on minerals like quartz. These crystals show fractures typical of extreme impacts. This type of evidence strengthened the interpretation of a meteorite crater.
Araguainha Dome: where is it and how did the meteorite transform the region?
The dome spans the boundary between Araguainha (MT) And Pontalina (GO)in the Cerrado region. At first glance, the landscape appears to be just a series of hills. However, satellite images reveal the huge circular ring. Rural roads cut the edges of the crater and partly follow this contour.
The impact profoundly modified the subsoil. Rocks that were in deeper layers uplifted and became exposed. The region therefore offers a natural “geological section”. Researchers analyze these outcrops to reconstruct ancient marine and continental environments. In addition, the differentiated relief influences watercourses and human occupation.
How do scientists study South America’s largest meteorite crater?
Researchers use various techniques to study the Araguainha Dome. First, they carry out detailed mapping of the terrain. Then they take samples of rocks and minerals to analyze them in the laboratory. These samples reveal signs of very high temperatures and pressures.
The researchers also postulate radiometric dating. These methods make it possible to accurately estimate the age of the impact. In addition, geophysical surveys measure variations in gravity and magnetism in the region. Thus, scientists reconstruct the internal geometry of the crater and evaluate the thickness of the deformed layers.
What curiosities surround meteorites and craters like Araguainha?
The Dome of Araguainha is part of a global ensemble of impact structures. Many smaller meteorites enter the atmosphere every day. They usually disintegrate before reaching the ground. However, some fragments survive and receive a specific classification:
- chondrites: formed mainly of silicates and small mineral spheres.
- Iron: composed mainly of iron and nickel.
- Mixed or siderolites: combine metal and rock.
Large craters, like Araguainha, rarely appear. However, major impacts leave lasting traces. In some cases, they influence climate and biodiversity. Studies are examining whether the event in the Araguainha region contributed to a mass extinction at the end of the Permian. Research is still analyzing this possible relationship.
What does the Dome of Araguainha reveal about Earth’s history?
The dome functions as an outdoor laboratory. It preserves information about the interior of the continental crust. At the same time, it records the consequences of a major cosmic impact. This allows scientists to better understand the risks associated with new, similar events.
Interest in the Dome of Araguainha is growing among Brazilian institutions. Research groups from different universities carry out periodic expeditions. Furthermore, the debate on responsible scientific tourism in the region is intensifying. Initiatives of this type can bring geology and astronomy closer to the population. Thus, the public also begins to see the Cerrado as a source of knowledge about space.
- Araguainha Dome: the meteorite crater that marked the center of Brazil
- Araguainha Dome in MT and GO: history of the largest meteorite crater in South America
- How the Araguainha Dome reveals the impact of an ancient meteorite in Brazil
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