The Allahabad University (AU) is set to get the first “crater core library” in the country to store samples from the asteroid impact site at Dhala in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district.

The Atomic Mineral Division of the Department of Atomic Energy has, in principle, decided to provide around 800 samples of the asteroid drilled from the core at Dhala for the library.

The samples, called lithologs, will be preserved in specially designed boxes for research purposes.

One of the oldest impact structures in the world that was created by an asteroid around 2,500 million years ago, Dhala was discovered by geologist Dr Jayanta K Pati while studying some rocks in Bundelkhand.

Pati was also the department head of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Allahabad University in 2005.

“So far, students could study the crater and not the drill cores even if they visit the spot, as drilling costs are exorbitant and involves technical expertise. Nothing may be found there if we visit it after some years,” said Pati. Therefore, if the spot can be preserved and a library set up, students can study the drill cores any time.

After receiving the approval of the Department of Atomic Energy, Pati has prepared a proposal for allotment of space and infrastructure to set up the library.

The decision to this effect was taken during a joint inspection at Dhala by the members of Atomic Minerals Division and AU.

The inspection was conducted from September 19 to 24.

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