000147921 001__ 147921
000147921 005__ 20250110143336.0
000147921 0247_ $$2doi$$a10.1016/j.jsames.2024.105338
000147921 0248_ $$2sideral$$a141413
000147921 037__ $$aART-2025-141413
000147921 041__ $$aeng
000147921 100__ $$aBermúdez, H. D.
000147921 245__ $$aThe sedimentological signature of impact spherules and its relation to ejecta transport mechanisms during the Chicxulub asteroid impact (Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary)
000147921 260__ $$c2025
000147921 5060_ $$aAccess copy available to the general public$$fUnrestricted
000147921 5203_ $$aThe Chicxulub impact is the most likely cause of the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (KPB) mass extinction and the only impact event in Earth's history with a globally traceable ejecta bed. Although the impact spherules are thought to represent molten or vaporized material, precise genesis and transport mechanisms remain underconstrained. Here, we show that the morphology, size, internal structure, and distribution of the spherules within the KPB deposits are related to origin and transport processes. The study of thousands of spherules from KPB deposits in Colombia, the USA, and Spain has revealed the presence of three fractions related to three different distribution processes, each with a distinctive sedimentological signature. The coarser fraction ("aspergo deposit," from the Latin aspergo, meaning splash) comprises rotational and agglutinated/irregular forms (size > 2 mm) containing abundant vesicles, unmelted inclusions, and schlieren, implying an origin from molten materials and transport following ballistic trajectories. The intermediate fraction ("pyrocloud deposit" from the Greek pyr, meaning fire) represents a mixture of molten and condensed droplets, including spheres, rotational, and agglutinated/irregular forms (size 0.3–2 mm), transported by the rapid expansion of a fast-moving, high-temperature turbulent cloud. The globally distributed finer fraction ("fireball layer") is composed exclusively of spheres (size <0.3 mm) condensed from a vapor plume after the Chicxulub impact. These observations provide valuable insights into ejecta distributions during massive asteroid impacts and enhance our understanding of the Chicxulub impact and its aftermath.
000147921 536__ $$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI/PID2022-136233NB-I00$$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E33-23R
000147921 540__ $$9info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess$$aby-nc-nd$$uhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/
000147921 655_4 $$ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/article$$vinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
000147921 700__ $$aBolívar, L.
000147921 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0003-0063-8752$$aArz, J. A.$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000147921 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0003-4632-533X$$aArenillas, I.$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000147921 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0001-7302-5901$$aGilabert, V.
000147921 700__ $$aDePalma, R.
000147921 700__ $$aPhilips, G.
000147921 700__ $$aDe Palma, M.
000147921 700__ $$aBermúdez, D.
000147921 700__ $$aGómez, C.
000147921 700__ $$aCui, Y.
000147921 7102_ $$12000$$2655$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Ciencias de la Tierra$$cÁrea Paleontología
000147921 773__ $$g153 (2025), 105338 [11 pp.]$$pJ. South Am. earth sci.$$tJOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES$$x0895-9811
000147921 8564_ $$s11817211$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/147921/files/texto_completo.pdf$$yPostprint
000147921 8564_ $$s586382$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/147921/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon$$xicon$$yPostprint
000147921 909CO $$ooai:zaguan.unizar.es:147921$$particulos$$pdriver
000147921 951__ $$a2025-01-10-14:32:07
000147921 980__ $$aARTICLE