Scientists have confirmed the meteoritic origin of a crater in Canada

Geologists have confirmed that an annular depression with a diameter of about 25 km in the Canadian province of Quebec was formed as a result of the fall of a large cosmic body about 390 million years ago. The object was initially spotted on satellite images by local resident Joel Lapointe, who was planning a hiking route. This was reported by Live Science magazine on July 16.

In 2024, Lapointe studied the area around Lake Marsal in the Côte-Nord region in Google Maps. His attention was attracted by an almost regular circular depression, which was noticeably different from the surrounding terrain. Later, he contacted the French geophysicist Pierre Rochette, who suggested that the shape of the area could indicate an ancient impact crater.

The first samples contained zircon, a mineral capable of forming or changing under the influence of high temperatures and pressure during the fall of a celestial body. However, the mere presence of zircon was not enough to confirm the origin of the structure.

In October 2025, a group of geologists conducted an expedition to the proposed crater. According to Gordon Osinski, professor of planetary geology at Western University in Canada, the researchers were looking for signs of impact metamorphism — rock changes under the influence of extreme pressure.

The team discovered cones of destruction — characteristic furrowed formations in rocks that occur during the passage of a powerful shock wave. Such structures are considered one of the most reliable signs of a collision with an asteroid or comet. Geologists have also found large outcrops of molten rock upon impact.

The study of the samples allowed us to estimate the age of the structure at about 390 million years. After discussion with the council of Innu Equanitshit, the facility was named Ukhaachatik. The results are scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the Meteorite Society, which will be held in Frankfurt from August 9 to 14, 2026. So far, we are talking about the results presented to the scientific community, and not about a completed peer-reviewed publication.

About 200 impact craters have been confirmed on Earth, more than 30 of them are in Canada. According to Osinski, scientists discover one or two new objects every year, but most of them have a diameter of less than 5-10 km. Structures about 25 km in size are much rarer.

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