14.8 Million Years Old: The Revered Nördlinger Ries Rock
In a fascinating twist, the professional association of German geoscientists, BDG, has named a 14.8-million-year-old rock found in the Nördlinger Ries, situated between Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, as the "Rock of the Year 2024." This celestial souvenir was formed through an extraordinary asteroid impact.
News broke that approximately 15 million years ago, a prodigious asteroid, roughly 1.5 kilometers in diameter, came crashing into southern Germany. The site was later declared "one of the best-preserved impact craters in the world" by Manuel Lapp, spokesperson for the trustees.
Every year, the BDG choses a rock as "Rock of the Year" to highlight the importance of geosciences in everyday life and their far-reaching impact on us all.
The Nördlinger Ries' Asteroid Genesis
Although you might find suevite in various regions, it's quite the celebrity in the Nördlinger Ries. This particular blend of rock originated from an asteroid impact, a geological marvel that captivates scientists past and present.
Geoscience's Golden Triangle: Bavaria and Swabia
It should come as no surprise that geoscience enthusiasts from all around the world flock to the enchanting landscapes of Bavaria and Swabia. With their vibrant hues and intricate formations, the distinctive stone structures are a treasure trove of geological insights, making these regions a hub for geoscientists and tourists alike.
Suevite: The Universal Impactite
Suevite, the rock that catapulted the Nördlinger Ries to stardom, proves to be an impactite rock mined from the remains of the Nördlinger Ries crater. Not only is suevite significant to the Nördlinger Ries, but it also shares geological similarities with impactites found on other celestial bodies, such as Mars and the asteroid Vesta.
Suevite: Makeup and Formation
Suevite consists of melt-bearing breccias, fragments of rock melted and solidified under extreme conditions. These extreme conditions result in high-pressure minerals like coesite and stishovite. The presence of suevite in the Nördlinger Ries crater sheds light on the extent of melting and deformation interested in the impact process, providing intriguing insights for geoscientists.
Enrichment Data Highlights:
- Formation: Suevite formed through intense processes during an impact event that resulted in high-pressure and high-temperature conditions.
- Mineralogy: Suevite contains unique high-pressure minerals like coesite and stishovite that can reveal valuable information about the impact process.
- Geological Context: The Nördlinger Ries crater is a renowned site for studying the impact process thanks to the presence of suevite.
- Comparison with other impactites: Suevite shares similarities with impactites found on other celestial bodies, allowing for cross-comparisons and universal insights into the impact process.
The natural wonder that is the Nördlinger Ries and its famous suevite rock continues to inspire geology enthusiasts worldwide, offering a glimpse into the cosmic dance between celestial objects and our very own planet.
