Chicxulubtörmäys

Chicxulub impact crater is a well-preserved impact crater on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, believed to be the site of a catastrophic asteroid or comet impact that occurred approximately 66 million years ago. The crater is named after the nearby town of Chicxulub, and it is one of the largest verified impact craters on Earth, with a diameter of about 180 kilometers (112 miles).

The Chicxulub impact is thought to have been caused by an asteroid estimated to be about 10 to 15 kilometers (6 to 9 miles) in diameter. The event is strongly linked to the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event, which marked the end of the Cretaceous period and the beginning of the Paleogene period. This extinction event led to the demise of approximately 75% of all species on Earth, including all non-avian dinosaurs.

The crater was first identified in the 1970s by geologists Glen Penfield and Michael Rampino, who recognized the unique geological features of the region. Subsequent research, including the discovery of the iridium layer and the analysis of fossilized impact melt rocks, has provided strong evidence for the asteroid impact hypothesis. The crater is now a popular destination for scientific research and tourism, offering insights into one of the most significant events in Earth's history.

The Chicxulub crater is characterized by a central peak, or peak ring, surrounded by a series of concentric ridges and valleys. The crater's age and the presence of shocked quartz, a type of quartz that forms under extreme pressure, further support the impact origin theory. The crater's location and size make it a crucial site for studying the consequences of a large asteroid or comet impact and their potential implications for life on Earth.