which best supports the evidence that an astroid

1 answer

It seems that your question was cut off. If you are asking for evidence supporting the idea that an asteroid impacted Earth (perhaps in relation to a specific event like the extinction of the dinosaurs), here are some key points that provide that support:

  1. Iridium Layer: A thin layer of sediment enriched with iridium (a rare element on Earth but common in asteroids) was found in the geological record around the time of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary, approximately 66 million years ago.

  2. Chicxulub Crater: The discovery of the Chicxulub crater on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, which dates to the same time as the K-Pg boundary, supports the theory that a large asteroid impact contributed to mass extinction.

  3. Shocked Quartz: Microscopic evidence of shocked quartz, which forms under high-pressure conditions typical of impacts, has been found in the same sediment layers associated with the K-Pg boundary.

  4. Global Forest Fires and Tsunami Deposits: Evidence of widespread wildfires and sedimentary deposits that suggest massive tsunamis following the impact supports the dramatic environmental changes that likely resulted from the event.

  5. Soot and Climate Change Evidence: High levels of soot in the same layers provide evidence for a "nuclear winter" scenario caused by the debris thrown into the atmosphere, which would have led to dramatic climate changes detrimental to many forms of life.

If you were referring to something different regarding asteroids, please provide additional context or details so I can assist you better!