Final answer:
There is evidence for meteorite impacts in the Hadean, including shock metamorphism in rocks, the discovery of impact craters, and the study of ancient zircons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Meteorite impacts in the Hadean eon, which refers to the time period between the formation of the Earth and the appearance of the oldest known rocks, leave behind several lines of evidence.
One piece of evidence is the presence of shock metamorphism in rocks, which occurs when high-pressure shock waves from meteorite impacts cause structural changes in the minerals. Another piece of evidence is the discovery of impact craters, such as the Sudbury Basin in Canada, which show distinct geological features like shocked quartz and impact breccia.
Additionally, the study of ancient zircons, a durable mineral found in rocks, has provided evidence for meteorite impacts in the Hadean. Some zircons contain tiny inclusions of minerals that have unique isotopic signatures, indicating a meteoritic origin. This suggests that these zircons formed from the impact of meteorites during the early stages of Earth's history.