PIRSA:13080041

Impact cratering and the evolution of planetary surfaces in the solar system – The Chicxulub impact

(2013). Impact cratering and the evolution of planetary surfaces in the solar system – The Chicxulub impact. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/13080041

Impact cratering and the evolution of planetary surfaces in the solar system – The Chicxulub impact. Perimeter Institute, Aug. 16, 2013, https://pirsa.org/13080041 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:13080041,
            doi = {10.48660/13080041},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/13080041},
            author = {},
            keywords = {},
            language = {en},
            title = {Impact cratering and the evolution of planetary surfaces in the solar system {\textendash} The Chicxulub impact},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2013},
            month = {aug},
            note = {PIRSA:13080041 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }
DOI 10.48660/13080041
Collection
Talk Type Conference

Abstract

Impacts of asteroid and comets constitute major geologic processes shaping the surfaces and evolution of planetary bodies. Impacts produce deep transient cavities, with excavation to deep crustal levels, fragmentation, and removal of large rock volumes. Formation of complex craters involves high pressures and temperatures resulting in intense deformation, fracturing and melting. Here, we analyze the crater-forming impacts and their effects on the Earth´s climate, environment and life-support systems, in relation to the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary. The boundary represents one of the major extinction events in the Phanerozoic, which affected about 75 % of species. It is marked by a clay layer globally distributed that is characterized by anomalous contents of iridium and platinum group elements, marking the occurrence of a large bolide impact. Studies have examined the age, stratigraphic correlations and composition of the boundary layer, establishing a genetic association to the Chicxulub impact in the Yucatan peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico. The Chicxulub crater is a ~200 km diameter structure with peak ring and multi-ring morphology. Impact generated a transient cavity some 20-25 km deep resulting in intense deformation and shaking, which is recorded in the breccias and debris flow deposits in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea area. Impact was on a shallow carbonate platform and resulted in huge tsunamis and in injection of CO2 and sulfur components into the atmosphere. Effects of impacts in the environment and climate of the Earth have been intensely investigated, mainly in relation to the mass extinction, where the affectation in the evolution patterns was profound and long-lasting. Effects of the K/Pg impact on the ecosystems extended for a long period of several millions of years. The disappearance of large numbers of species including complete groups severely affected the biodiversity and ecosystem composition in the marine and continental realms.