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K–Pg mass extinction

An impact-driven global crisis ended the non-avian dinosaurs and many marine groups while opening ecological space for surviving lineages.

Represented range66.1–65.9 Ma
RegionsGlobal
CladesNon-avian Dinosauria · Ammonitida · marine plankton · Mammalia · Aves

Claim ledger

event-mechanism · high

Boundary clay iridium and impact ejecta support an extraterrestrial impact, while high-precision 40Ar/39Ar ages place the K–Pg boundary at 66.043 ± 0.043 Ma and resolve impact and extinction as synchronous within about 32 kyr.

claim:event:k-pg-extinction
event-mechanism · high

Multiple stratigraphic, geochemical and geophysical lines of evidence identify Chicxulub as the source crater for the K–Pg impact.

claim:event:k-pg-chicxulub
event-mechanism · high

Abrupt fossil turnover at the K–Pg boundary is temporally associated with impact ejecta and the Chicxulub event.

claim:event:k-pg-turnover

References

  1. Extraterrestrial cause for the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinctionAlvarez, L.W.; Alvarez, W.; Asaro, F.; Michel, H.V. · 1980 · DOI 10.1126/science.208.4448.1095
  2. Time scales of critical events around the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundaryRenne, P.R.; Deino, A.L.; Hilgen, F.J.; Kuiper, K.F.; Mark, D.F.; Mitchell, W.S.; Morgan, L.E.; Mundil, R.; Smit, J. · 2013 · DOI 10.1126/science.1230492
  3. The Chicxulub asteroid impact and mass extinction at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundarySchulte, P. et al. · 2010 · DOI 10.1126/science.1177265
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