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Massive Holocene Impact Crater Discovered in Guangdong

11/14/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Jinlin crater in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, is the largest known Holocene impact crater at 900 meters.
It formed after the last ice age and remains well-preserved despite heavy rainfall.
Researchers found quartz with microfeatures indicating a violent impact and suggest it likely came from a 30-meter-wide meteorite traveling rapidly.
The discovery implies Holocene small impacts occurred more frequently than previously thought, with findings published in Matter and Radiation at Extremes.

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Story summary

Jinlin crater in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, is the largest known Holocene impact crater at 900 meters.
It formed after the last ice age and remains well-preserved despite heavy rainfall.
Researchers found quartz with microfeatures indicating a violent impact and suggest it likely came from a 30-meter-wide meteorite traveling rapidly.
The discovery implies Holocene small impacts occurred more frequently than previously thought, with findings published in Matter and Radiation at Extremes.