Researchers from Stanford University studying geological features in southern Africa suggest that a giant asteroid 23 to 36 miles across is responsible for a crater on Earth's crust.

The disastrous event that took place around 3.25 billion years ago is considered to be responsible for the geological features that are seen today in a region of South Africa, Barberton greenstone belt. Geologist Donald Lowe from Stanford University was of the view that the massive cosmic object travelling at 12 miles a second would have caused an earthquake of 10.8 magnitude.

The impact is said to have created a crater about 300 miles wide. It might have created seismic waves that were much more powerful than any earthquake in recorded history.

Lowe said they were having an idea that the cosmic object was big, but they were not aware of how big it was. After studying rocks in a region of South Africa known as the Barberton greenstone belt, researchers have mapped the details of the strike.

Scientists are of the belief that the space rock would have probably hit far away from the Barberton formation. The impact of the hit is said to have left imprint on the South African rocks and on the Earth and has disrupted the planet's crust.

Researchers also think that the impact could be behind the transition from an early tectonic regime to modern tectonic system. "This is providing significant support for the idea that the impact may have been responsible for this major shift in tectonics", said the researchers. It is also said that the event would have made the sky filled with dust and quite hot.