Popigai Crater Impact

About

The Popigai Crater is a significant impact crater located in northern Siberia, Russia. It was formed approximately 35.7 million years ago during the late Eocene epoch when an asteroid, estimated to be between 5 and 8 kilometers in diameter, struck the Earth. This impact created a crater about 100 kilometers in diameter, making it one of the largest impact craters globally, tied with the Manicouagan structure in Canada as the fourth largest verified impact structure. The impact had profound geological effects, including the instantaneous transformation of graphite into diamonds due to extreme heat and pressure. These "impact diamonds" are typically small and polycrystalline, suitable for industrial use rather than gemstones. The crater is a site of special geological heritage, designated as a UNESCO Geopark. Despite its size, the impact did not cause lasting climate changes, although it may have contributed to short-term environmental disruptions.