While planning a camping trip via Google Maps in 2024, a man named Joël Lapointe discovered a circular depression in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, CNBC Indonesia reported. That initial digital search led to the identification of a 390-million-year-old meteor impact crater measuring 15 kilometers wide.
Google Maps Discovery Sparks Scientific Expedition in Quebec
Joël Lapointe was examining satellite data near Lake Marsal when he spotted an unusual ring-shaped landform. Suspecting the geography might represent an ancient impact site, he contacted geophysicist Pierre Rochette from the Environmental Geosciences Research and Teaching Center (CEREGE) in France. Rochette noted that the topography strongly indicated a meteorite impact, prompting a re-evaluation of local geological formations previously classified as volcanic diatremes known as Marsal breccia, according to details covered by detikInet.
To confirm the hypothesis, an expedition team traveled to the remote and rugged terrain near Lake Marsal using an amphibious plane. The expedition included Gordon Osinski, a planetary geology professor at Western University and director of the Impact Earth database, alongside Jérôme Gattacceca from CEREGE. Osinski initially maintained a skeptical stance regarding the site’s origin, given that only about 200 impact structures are officially confirmed on Earth. Termasuk harus menghadapi medan yang terjal dan ditumbuhi semak belukar, prompting Osinski to state, Ini jadi salah satu ekspedisi lapangan tersulit yang pernah dilakukan, as reported by CBC. Along the way, the team also discovered a large cliff that likely consisted of impact-melt rock.
Shatter Cones Reveal Ancient Impact Evidence
Upon reaching the field site on the second day of the search, researchers identified shatter cones in the local bedrock. Shatter cones form from the intense shockwaves generated by high-velocity impacts or nuclear weapons testing, serving as direct, macroscopic proof of a cosmic collision. Osinski described shatter cones in a NASA statement as the only undeniable impact evidence visible to the naked eye in the field.
Laboratory analysis of the collected rock samples helped researchers estimate the age of the impact at approximately 390 million years. The team presented these findings at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, noting that the characteristics of the rocks closely match impact-melt formations found at other confirmed sites like Mistastin and Janisjarvi. Following consultations with the local Ekuanitshit Innu indigenous community, the researchers named the geological structure the Uhackatik crater.
Potential Global Impact and Future Recognition
Scientists emphasize the scale of the event that shaped the Côte-Nord landscape millions of years ago. Osinski stated that an impactor of that magnitude striking Earth today would generate regional destruction capable of wiping out major metropolitan centers and disrupting global climate patterns. Jérôme Gattacceca noted that the discovery underscores how many natural surprises the planet still conceals despite extensive scientific study, adding, This discovery is a beautiful lesson that our planet, despite being well-studied, still holds beautiful and awe-inspiring surprises.
Official confirmation of Uhackatik as a recognized impact structure is expected during the upcoming committee meeting of the Meteoritical Society. Joël Lapointe encouraged the public to trust amateur observations, telling Radio Canada that non-specialists should not dismiss unusual geographic findings simply because they fall outside their professional expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Quebec Crater Discovery
How was the Uhackatik crater discovered?
Joël Lapointe spotted an unusual circular landform while searching for a camping location on Google Maps in 2024. He then alerted geophysicist Pierre Rochette, which initiated the scientific investigation.
What physical evidence proved it was a meteor impact?
Researchers found shatter cones in the bedrock during their expedition to Lake Marsal. Shatter cones are geological features created by extreme shockwaves from hypervelocity impacts.
When did the impact occur, and how large is the crater?
Analysis of rock samples determined the impact happened roughly 390 million years ago. The resulting structure spans approximately 15 kilometers across the Côte-Nord region of Quebec.
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