Oklahoma Meteor Crater Re‑dated to 370 Million Years Ago, Linking to Mass Extinction

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have revised the age of the Ames meteor impact in Oklahoma from the previously accepted 467 million years to about 370 million years ago. Using zircon crystals to refine the dating, the team found the impact coincided with the Frasnian‑Famennian mass extinction event. The new timeline provides a clearer link between the meteor strike and one of Earth’s major extinction episodes, offering deeper insight into the planet’s geological history. The study demonstrates how precise mineral dating can reshape our understanding of ancient events and their global effects.