Joël Lapointe Identifies 390-Million-Year-Old Impact Crater on Google Maps
- A resident of Quebec, Joël Lapointe, has identified a 390-million-year-old impact crater while using Google Maps to plan a camping trip.
- Lapointe initiated contact with Pierre Rochette, an expert in geophysics at the Environmental Geosciences Research and Teaching Center (CEREGE) in France, after noticing the unusual circular landscape on...
- A research team led by Rochette later examined the area and determined that previous classifications of the site were likely incorrect.
A resident of Quebec, Joël Lapointe, has identified a 390-million-year-old impact crater while using Google Maps to plan a camping trip. The geological formation, located near Lake Marsal in the Côte-Nord region, measures approximately 15 kilometers in diameter, detikInet reported in 2024.
Geological Evidence of the Lake Marsal Impact
Lapointe initiated contact with Pierre Rochette, an expert in geophysics at the Environmental Geosciences Research and Teaching Center (CEREGE) in France, after noticing the unusual circular landscape on satellite imagery. Rochette initially evaluated the site based on its topography, noting that the formation strongly suggested a past impact event. According to reports from IFL Science and cited by detikInet, Rochette stated, Jika dilihat dari topografinya, ini sangat mengindikasikan adanya dampak,
which translates to: If you look at the topography, this is highly indicative of an impact.
#PPOD: Uhackatik Crater in Canada ☄️ Amateur astronomer Joël Lapointe was using Google Maps to plan a camping vacation in 2024 when he came across a feature in Quebec's Côte-Nord region that reminded him of an impact crater. He reported the finding, and now field investigations… pic.twitter.com/Y7r3hyb5Fn
A research team led by Rochette later examined the area and determined that previous classifications of the site were likely incorrect. While the area had been labeled as a volcanic formation, the team concluded that the rock compositions are more consistent with melt rocks found at the base of impact craters, similar to those at the Mistastin and Janisjarvi sites. This analysis was presented at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society in 2024.
Discovery of Shatter Cones at the Site
To confirm the origin of the formation, Gordon Osinski, a planetary geologist at Western University and director of the Impact Earth database, joined a CEREGE-led expedition to the lake. Upon arriving by amphibious aircraft, the team discovered “shatter cones,” which are cone-shaped features in rock created by the shockwaves of an impact. As noted in a statement released by NASA and reported by SuaraGarut.ID, Osinski described these as the only indisputable evidence of an impact event that you can see in the field with the naked eye.
Naming and Future Confirmation of Uhackatik
The research team has named the crater Uhackatik, following consultations with the local Ekuanitshit Innu indigenous community. While the physical evidence collected at the site supports the impact theory, the site is expected to be formally confirmed as an official impact crater during the next meeting of the Meteoritical Society committee. There are currently only about 200 confirmed impact structures on Earth, making this a rare geological discovery, according to SuaraGarut.ID.
Potential Global Consequences of Ancient Impacts
Analysis of rock samples indicates that the impact occurred approximately 390 million years ago. Osinski noted that a meteor of similar size striking Earth in the modern era would cause significant regional destruction, potentially obliterating major cities and altering the global climate. The identification of the Uhackatik site highlights the possibility that other impact craters remain undiscovered, potentially detectable through the use of digital mapping tools like those Lapointe utilized while planning his travel.
