What is the Chicxulub crater?
Q: What is the Chicxulub crater?
A: The Chicxulub crater is a large meteorite crater located partly in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico and partly underwater. It is more than 180 km (110 mi) in diameter, making it the third largest confirmed impact crater on Earth.
Q: When was the Chicxulub crater discovered?
A: The Chicxulub crater was discovered by petroleum prospectors in the late 1970s.
Q: How big was the bolide that formed the crater?
A: The bolide that formed the crater was at least 10 km (6 mi) in diameter.
Q: What evidence suggests that this impact structure dates from 66 million years ago?
A: Evidence for this impact structure dating from 66 million years ago includes shocked quartz, a gravity anomaly, and tektites found in surrounding areas. Additionally, age of rocks and isotope analysis also suggest an origin date of 66 million years ago.
Q: Did experts review available evidence to determine if this impact caused mass extinctions during the K-T boundary?
A: Yes, 41 international experts from 33 institutions reviewed available evidence covering 20 years' worth of data in March 2010 and concluded that this impact at Chicxulub triggered mass extinctions during the K-T boundary, including that of dinosaurs.
Q: How did scientists reconstruct what happened 66 million years ago?
A: Scientists were able to reconstruct what happened 66 million years ago by drilling into the remnant bowl and analysing its rocks.
Q: What event does this impact structure likely coincide with? A: This impact structure likely coincides with Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event which caused widespread extinction of many species including dinosaurs around 65 mya.
