The End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction and the Chicxulub Impact in Texas

One of the liveliest, contentious, and long-running scientific debates began over three decades ago with the discovery of an iridium anomaly in a thin clay layer at Gubbio, Italy, that led to the hypothesis that a large impact caused the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. For many scientists the discovery of an impact crater near Chicxulub on Yucatan in 1991 all but sealed the impact-kill hypothesis as proven with the impact as sole cause for the mass extinction. Ever since that time evidence to the contrary has generally been interpreted as an impact-tsunami disbturbance. A multi-disciplinary team of reserachers has tested this assertion in new cores and a dozen outcrops along the Brazos River, Texas. In this area undisturbed sediments reveal a complete time stratigraphic sequence containing the primary impact spherule ejecta layer in late Maastrichtian claystones deposited about 200-300 thousand years before the mass extinction.
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The Cretaceous–Tertiary Mass Extinction: Theories and ControversiesAuthor(s)Gerta KellerGerta KellerDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A. e-mail: gkeller@princeton.eduSearch for other works by this author on:
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Defining the Cretaceous–Tertiary Boundary: A Practical Guide and Return to First PrinciplesAuthor(s)Gerta KellerGerta KellerDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A. e-mail: gkeller@princeton.eduSearch for other works by this author on:
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Age and Origin of the Chicxulub Impact and Sandstone Complex, Brazos River, Texas: Evidence from Lithostratigraphy and SedimentologyAuthor(s)Thierry Adatte;Thierry AdatteGeological and Paleontological Institute, Anthropole, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland e-mail: thierry.adatte@unil.chSearch for other works by this author on:Gerta Keller;Gerta KellerDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A.Search for other works by this author on:Gerald R. BaumGerald R. BaumLewis Energy Group, 10101 Reunion Square, Suite 1000, San Antonio, Texas 78216, U.S.A.Search for other works by this author on:
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Biostratigraphy, Age of Chicxulub Impact, and Depositional Environment of the Brazos River KTB SequencesAuthor(s)Gerta Keller;Gerta KellerDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A. e-mail: gkeller@princeton.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Sigal Abramovich;Sigal AbramovichDepartment of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba 84105, IsraelSearch for other works by this author on:Thierry Adatte;Thierry AdatteGeological and Paleontological Institute, University of Lausanne, Anthropole, CH-1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for other works by this author on:Zsolt BernerZsolt BernerInstitute for Mineralogy and Geochemistry, University of Karlsruhe, 76128 Karlsruhe, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
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Maastrichtian Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironment of Brazos River, Falls County, Texas, U.S.A.Author(s)Sigal Abramovich;Sigal AbramovichDept. of Geological & Environmental Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba, 84105, Israel e-mail: sigalabr@bgu.ac.ilSearch for other works by this author on:Gerta Keller;Gerta KellerDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A.Search for other works by this author on:Zsolt Berner;Zsolt BernerInstitute for Mineralogy & Geochemistry, University of Karlsruhe, 76128 Karlsruhe, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:Matan Cymbalista;Matan CymbalistaDept. of Geological & Environmental Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba, 84105, IsraelSearch for other works by this author on:Carmi RakCarmi RakDept. of Geological & Environmental Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba, 84105, IsraelSearch for other works by this author on:
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Calcareous Nannofossils Across the Cretaceous–Tertiary Boundary at Brazos, Texas, U.S.A.: Extinction and Survivorship, Biostratigraphy, and PaleoecologyAuthor(s)Abdel Aziz TantawyAbdel Aziz TantawyDepartment of Geology, Aswan Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Aswan 81528, Egypt e-mail: aatantawy@yahoo.comSearch for other works by this author on:
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The Distribution of Benthic Foraminifera Across the Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary in Texas (Brazos River) and Denmark (Stevns Klint)Author(s)Malcolm B. Hart;Malcolm B. HartSchool of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K. e-mail: mhart@plymouth.ac.ukSearch for other works by this author on:Sarah R. Searle;Sarah R. SearlePetrostrat Ltd, Tan-y-Graig, Parc Caer Seion, Conwy, LL32 8FA, U.K.Search for other works by this author on:Sean E. Feist;Sean E. FeistNetwork Stratigraphic Consulting Ltd, Harvest House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3JF, U.K.Search for other works by this author on:Andrew D. Leighton;Andrew D. LeightonSchool of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K.Search for other works by this author on:Gregory D. Price;Gregory D. PriceSchool of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K.Search for other works by this author on:Christopher W. Smart;Christopher W. SmartSchool of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K.Search for other works by this author on:Richard J. TwitchettRichard J. TwitchettSchool of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K.Search for other works by this author on:
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Cretaceous–Tertiary Mass Extinction in Marginal and Open Marine Environments: Texas, U.S.A., and TunisiaAuthor(s)Gerta KellerGerta KellerDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A. e-mail:gkeller@princeton.eduSearch for other works by this author on:
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Platinum Group Element (Pge) Geochemistry of Brazos Sections, Texas, U.S.A.Author(s)Brian Gertsch;Brian GertschDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A. e-mail: bgertsch@princeton.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Gerta Keller;Gerta KellerDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A. e-mail: bgertsch@princeton.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Thierry Adatte;Thierry AdatteInstitut de Géologie et Paléontologie, Université de Lausanne, Anthropole, CH-1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for other works by this author on:Zsolt BernerZsolt BernerKarlsruhe Institute of Technology, University, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
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Trace-Element Geochemistry of Brazos Sections, Texas, U.S.A.Author(s)Brian Gertsch;Brian GertschDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A. e-mail: bgertsch@princeton.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Gerta Keller;Gerta KellerDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A. e-mail: bgertsch@princeton.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Thierry Adatte;Thierry AdatteGeological and Paleontological Institut, University of Lausanne, Anthropole, CH-1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandSearch for other works by this author on:David BartelsDavid BartelsDepartment of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, U.S.A.Search for other works by this author on:
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The Sandstone Complex in the Brazos Riverbed Section: Geochemical Constraints on Genesis and Depositional ConditionsAuthor(s)Dirk Munsel;Dirk MunselKarlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany e-mail: zsolt-attila.berner@kit.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Zsolt Berner;Zsolt BernerKarlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany e-mail: zsolt-attila.berner@kit.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Doris StübenDoris StübenKarlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany e-mail: zsolt-attila.berner@kit.eduSearch for other works by this author on:
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Geochemistry of Chicxulub Impact Spherules in the Brazos Riverbed Section, Texas, U.S.A.Author(s)Patrick Ullrich;Patrick UllrichKarlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany e-mail: zsolt-attila.berner@kit.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Zsolt Berner;Zsolt BernerKarlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany e-mail: zsolt-attila.berner@kit.eduSearch for other works by this author on:Utz KramarUtz KramarKarlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany e-mail: zsolt-attila.berner@kit.eduSearch for other works by this author on: