First UK Impact Layer Discovered

Discussion in 'Earth Science' started by wet1, Nov 16, 2002.

  1. wet1 Wanderer Registered Senior Member

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    First UK Impact Layer Discovered
    Matthew Genge, NEO Information Centre
    November 14, 2002

    In an article published today in the journal Science researchers led by Dr Gordon Walkden of Aberdeen University have reported the discovery of a 214 myr old impact layer in the rocks of the west of England. The 2cm thick layer consists of millimetre-sized green spherules that were formed as molten droplets of rock in the impact of a large asteroid or comet with the Earth. The droplets formed by condensation from gases generated by
    vaporisation of rocks at enormous temperatures and were scattered over the entire Earth surface.

    Speaking to the NEO Information Centre, Walkden said "I discovered the layer in 1983 but didn't realise it was an impact layer until the late 1990s." Mr Julian Parker, from Aberdeen, studied the spherule layer with Walkden and discovered quartz grains that had been deformed by intense pressures. "The orientation of the distorted planes through the grains showed they had been shocked," said Walkden, "and prove the layer was formed as debris thrown out from a giant collision."

    Dr Simon Kelly, from the Open University, measured the age of the west country spherule layer using the decay of radioactive potassium, that is found in all potassium-bearing minerals. The age of 214 myrs is the same as the 100 km wide Manicouagan Crater in Canada which is, therefore, the likely source of the impact layer. Kelly, however, suspects that a number of craters that have similar ages may have formed at the same time as a string of impacts.

    At the time, 214 myrs ago, early dinosaurs and mammals lived in, what was then, the red arid deserts of Southwest Britain. The fall of the spherules, which may have still been molten, and the other effects of the impact did not, however, cause a mass extinction. The animals of the Triassic period were not affected and survived until 13 million years later when many became extinct for an, as yet, unknown reason.

    "The lack of a mass extinction," says Gordon, "suggests that in large impacts, where the collision occurs is just as important as its size." The impact at Chicxulub 65 myrs ago, that is widely believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, occurred into carbonate and sulphate rocks and it is thought that the gases generated by the impact caused climatic changes that resulted in the extinction.

    The location of the impact layer is currently being kept secret in order to protect it. Specimens of the layer, however, are being put on public exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London, at the NEO Information Centre at the National Space Centre in Leicester, and the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. Dr Gordon Walkden is also taking part in a public discussion on impacts and mass extinctions, together with Dr Matthew Genge
    from Imperial College, at 2.30 pm GMT on Nov 15 at the Darwin Centre of the Natural History Museum. This discussion will be broadcast live on the internet and at the National Space Centre, Leicester and the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.


    Link


    Well, it is a little too late to listen to the discussion on the i-net, the article is still interesting.
     
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  3. Adam §Þ@ç€ MØnk€¥ Registered Senior Member

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    Very interesting, Watson.

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