Mass failure of the North Atlantic margin triggered by the Cretaceous-Paleogene bolide impact

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 2000 Mass failure of the North Atlantic margin triggered by the Cretaceous-Paleogene bolide impact Richard D. Norris; Richard D. Norris 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1541, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John Firth; John Firth 2Ocean Drilling Program, 1000 Discovery Drive, College Station, Texas 77845, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jerzy S. Blusztajn; Jerzy S. Blusztajn 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1541, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gregory Ravizza Gregory Ravizza 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1541, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2000) 28 (12): 1119–1122. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<1119:MFOTNA>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 03 May 2000 rev-recd: 11 Sep 2000 accepted: 15 Sep 2000 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Richard D. Norris, John Firth, Jerzy S. Blusztajn, Gregory Ravizza; Mass failure of the North Atlantic margin triggered by the Cretaceous-Paleogene bolide impact. Geology 2000;; 28 (12): 1119–1122. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<1119:MFOTNA>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The 65 Ma Chicxulub impact is known to have triggered large submarine slope failures near the crater in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Here we show that the impact also precipitated massive submarine failure of the continental margin around the western North Atlantic. We have identified mass-flow deposits containing impact ejecta of Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary age in two deep-sea cores more than 700 km from the continental margin. The mass flows must have originated from the continental margin because they contain microfossils typical of shallow-water environments and sedimentary features indicative of deposition by gravity currents. Geophysical data suggest that the mass-wasting deposits may be present over the entire western North Atlantic from Puerto Rico to the Grand Banks of Canada, and that much of the eastern margin of North America catastrophically failed during the Cretaceous-Paleogene impact. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.