Scientists in southern Spain are drilling 500 metres into the country's only internationally recognised meteorite crater in a project that could shed light on both Earth's past and the geology of Mars.
The research is taking place in Almería province, where a meteorite struck around 8 million years ago, creating a massive crater. By extracting core samples deep underground, researchers hope to understand how the impact altered the surrounding rock and how the crater gradually filled over time.
Scientists are particularly searching for signs of "shocked quartz", a mineral deformation produced by the extreme energy of a meteorite impact.
Researchers say the findings could help them compare geological processes on Earth with those observed on Mars and the Moon. The project is also expected to reveal more about one of the most powerful natural events ever to shape the region.
