In September, geologists took rocks from Mont des Éboulements as part of research into the dating of the Charlevoix crater. The results could not only have an impact on science, but also on the global recognition of the Charlevoix Geopark.
This research, carried out by the Geological Survey of Canada in partnership with the Geopark, aims to more precisely date the impact of the meteorite which shaped the landscape of the region, and which is currently estimated between 453 and 430 million years ago our era.
For Jean-Michel Castonguay, professor of physics at the Center for Collegial Studies in Charlevoix and director of the Astronomical Observatories and the Astrobleme of Charlevoix, it is “a question of seeing if this age corresponds to a known period in the history of the earth where there have been major climatic upheavals.
The professor believes that the meteorite impact of Charlevoix may have something to do with the mass extinction that ended the Ordovician era, well before that of the dinosaurs. “We would not try to say that it is due to Charlevoix, but at least that it is entirely a coincidence and that we should perhaps go even more in depth on this now that we know this information,” he specifies.
The analysis of rocks taken from Mont des Éboulements, considered “the rise from the bottom of the crater”, will be carried out in Ottawa during the winter. The results, expected in 2025, could obviously have an impact in the scientific community, but also more locally on the Charlevoix Geopark.
The discovery of a link between the meteorite and a mass extinction could contribute to the recognition of the organism on a global level. “At the moment there are 213 geoparks in around 150 countries. In Canada, there are just five that really have their Unesco accreditation,” says Félicia Corbeil-L’abbé., coordinator of the Charlevoix Geopark and the Astronomical Observatories and the Charlevoix Astrobleme.
To define a geopark, the coordinator likes to say that “it is a territory where we celebrate the links between the inhabitants and the geological heritage. For UNESCO, it is also a means of structuring a community and a territory. In Charlevoix, there is already a beautiful structure in terms of tourism. The objective would rather be to add a geotourism component. »
Unesco certification would therefore be a big plus for the region, believes Félicia Corbeil-L’abbé. “The international reputation of UNESCO is a label, a name that is extremely recognized, very respected. »
She adds that “scientific research, one of the major aspects of a geopark, can also encourage the provision of new income”.
Jean-Michel Castonguay adds. “If we can demonstrate that Charlevoix had a role to play in the Ordovician extinction, we will have great arguments to have the region recognized as a world geological heritage site. »
