Massive asteroid impact 6.3 million years ago left giant glass field in Brazil

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 Massive asteroid impact 6.3 million years ago left giant glass field in Brazil


For the first time ever, scientists have uncovered a vast field of tektites in Brazil — mysterious glassy fragments forged when a powerful extraterrestrial object slammed into Earth about 6.3 million years ago. Named “geraisites” after Minas Gerais, where they were first found, these dark, aerodynamic droplets of natural glass stretch across more than 900 kilometers and may mark one of South America’s most significant ancient impact events.
A newly discovered field of glassy “geraisites” in Brazil reveals that a powerful asteroid struck the region around 6.3 million years ago. Spanning more than 900 kilometers, the find ranks among the world’s major tektite fields — even though the crater is still missing. 

Scientists have identified Brazil's first known field of tektites, the glassy material created when an asteroid or other extraterrestrial object strikes Earth with extreme force. These newly recognized specimens, called geraisites after the state of Minas Gerais where they were first found, form a previously unknown strewn field. The discovery helps fill gaps in South America's incomplete record of ancient impact events.
The findings were detailed in the journal Geology by a research team led by Álvaro Penteado Crósta, a geologist and senior professor at the Institute of Geosciences at the State University of Campinas (IG-UNICAMP). The project involved collaborators from Brazil, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.

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