A Meteorite That Hit Scotland a Billion Years Ago Changed Life on Earth

Learn more about a meteorite impact that may have given rise to the life we know on Earth today.

By Monica Cull
Apr 29, 2025 9:15 PMApr 29, 2025 9:13 PM
Stac Fada Member Scotland
The Stac Fada Member in Scotland. (Image Credit: Tony Prave)

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A meteorite that struck northwestern Scotland about a billion years ago may have collided 200 million years later than initially believed. 

New research from Curtin University in Australia analyzed tiny crystals left behind by the impact and found that they were younger than previously thought. This new information could change what science knows about Scotland’s rich geological history and the general understanding of how non-marine life evolved on Earth. 

Scotland’s Meteorite Strike 

Along Scotland’s northwestern coast is a layer of rock known as the Stac Fada Member. The Stac Fada Member is part of the larger Stoer Group, which consists of sediment from the Mesoproterozoic Era that dates back to about 1.6 million years to 1 million years ago. 

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