The causes of twin craters in Sweden have been identified. After much debate, it has been confirmed that the Jämtland craters were caused by meteorite impacts in prehistoric times. One crater is massive while the other one is just one tenth of the other's size, Science Daily reported.
The larger of the two is located south of Östersund in Brunsflo and measures 7.5 kilometers across. The smaller one is located 16 kilometers from its larger twin and measures just 700 meters in diameter.
"The two meteorite impacts occurred at the same time, 458 million years ago, and formed these two craters," says Erik Sturkell, Professor of Geophysics at the University of Gothenburg.
These twin craters caused by meteorites are not the only ones to hit Earth during this time. In fact, it is quite the opposite. This era of meteorites is rumored to have left hundreds of yet undiscovered craters around the world.
The discoveries were made as industrial operations opened up the ground to reveal the ancient craters. Using sediment found above and below ground, scientists were able to confirm that the impacts happened at the same time, Nature World Report said.
"Information from drilling operations demonstrates that identical sequences are present in the two craters, and the sediment above the impact sequences is of the same age. In other words, these are simultaneous impacts," says Erik Sturkell.
Other evidences of craters have been found in Sweden in the past. In the 1940s, a strange red limestone was found in a quarry. Years of research confirmed that it was, indeed, a piece of meteor that did not disintegrate in the atmosphere.
Over 90 other meteorites have been found in the same Kinnekulle area since then. Thanks to mining operations, more and more of these mysterious and fascinating objects have been dug up and studied.
