Unraveling the Mystery of the Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the asteroid responsible for the demise of the dinosaurs. Geochemical evidence from the Chicxulub impact site in Mexico reveals that the asteroid originated from beyond the orbit of Jupiter.
The Discovery of the Asteroid Impact
In 1978, geophysicist Glen Penfield stumbled upon an unusual feature while studying a magnetic survey map of the Gulf of Mexico. A semicircular arch on the map hinted at the presence of an impact crater. This finding sparked a chain of events that would eventually lead to the confirmation of the asteroid impact theory.
The first article proposing that an asteroid caused the extinction of the dinosaurs was published in 1980. The article highlighted the presence of iridium, a rare element, in rocks formed around the time of the extinction. This discovery, combined with magnetic and gravity data, confirmed that the site was indeed an impact event.
Understanding the Asteroid that Killed the Dinosaurs
Although the asteroid impact occurred 66 million years ago, scientists have been able to gather significant information about the event. The Chicxulub crater, located in Mexico, is approximately 150 kilometers wide and suggests that an asteroid up to 15 kilometers wide struck the Earth at a steep angle.
The impact was so massive that it altered the planet’s shape and transformed rock into glassy-looking spheres. These spheres were dispersed globally, often accompanied by a characteristic layer of asteroid iridium.
The Origin of the Chicxulub Asteroid
Researchers have identified the origin and composition of the Chicxulub impactor. The asteroid is believed to be a carbonaceous asteroid, or type C, which contains rocks, metals, and a significant amount of carbon. The team’s findings suggest that the asteroid came from beyond Jupiter’s orbit.
The Chicxulub asteroid is estimated to have had a diameter of approximately 10 kilometers. Its collision with Earth 66 million years ago is widely regarded as a key cause of the dinosaur extinction. The discovery of high levels of platinum group elements, such as iridium and ruthenium, in the K-Pg boundary layers supports this theory.
These elements are rare on Earth but common in meteorites or rocks from space. The presence of elevated levels of PGE around the world suggests that the impact scattered debris globally, leaving a lasting signature on the planet’s geology.