A groundbreaking study has revealed that the asteroid responsible for the mass extinction event 66 million years ago, which wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs, originated from the cold, dark reaches of the outer Solar System, beyond Jupiter’s orbit. This discovery provides a new perspective on Earth’s history and its interactions with space objects.
The Chicxulub event, which left a colossal crater on the Yucatán Peninsula and led to the extinction of 76% of all animal species on Earth, was caused by an asteroid rather than a comet, as confirmed by an international team of researchers. The asteroid, estimated to be about 10 kilometers (6 miles) in diameter, triggered a global catastrophe, including tsunamis and widespread fires, drastically altering the planet’s environment.
To trace the origins of this deadly rock, the research team, led by geochemist Mario Fischer-Gödde from the University of Cologne, analyzed a mineral called ruthenium found in the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary layer a layer of sediment laid down at the time of the impact. By comparing the isotopic ratios of ruthenium from this layer with those found in meteorites and terrestrial samples, the researchers determined that the asteroid was a carbonaceous chondrite, a rare type of asteroid rich in carbon, originating from the outer Solar System.
This finding contrasts with other significant impacts on Earth, which were caused by siliceous asteroids from the inner Solar System. The research also sheds light on the role of Jupiter, which typically acts as a barrier, preventing many outer Solar System objects from reaching Earth. The Chicxulub impactor, however, managed to break through, resulting in one of the most significant extinction events in Earth’s history.
The study, published in the journal Science, not only confirms the extraterrestrial origin of the minerals found in the boundary layer but also opens up new questions about the dynamics of the Solar System and the rare instances when such large outer Solar System objects impact Earth.
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