Glass from the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary in Haiti

Authors

Haraldur Sigurdsson, University of Rhode Island
Steven D'Hondt, University of Rhode Island
Michael A. Arthur, University of Rhode Island
Timothy J. Bralower, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
James C. Zachos, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Mickey Van Fossen, University of Florida
James E.T. Channel, University of Florida

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1991

Abstract

Tektite-like glasses preserved at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary at Beloc in Haiti provide clear evidence of an impact event. The glass composition suggests that the impact occurred on a continental shelf region, generating a silica-rich glass with chemical composition that reflects the melting of continental crustal rocks, and a calcium-rich glass produced by the fusion of marl sediments. These findings indicate that catastrophic release to the atmosphere of 1015 moles of C02 from vaporized marl occurred during the impact. © 1991 Nature Publishing Group.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Nature

Volume

349

Issue

6309

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Sigurdsson, Haraldur, Steven D'Hondt, Michael A. Arthur, Timothy J. Bralower, James C. Zachos, Mickey Van Fossen, and James E. Channel. "Glass from the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary in Haiti." Nature 349, 6309 (1991). doi: 10.1038/349482a0.