K-T boundary extinction: Geologically instantaneous or gradual event? Evidence from deep-sea benthic foraminifera

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 1994 K-T boundary extinction: Geologically instantaneous or gradual event? Evidence from deep-sea benthic foraminifera Rodolfo Coccioni; Rodolfo Coccioni 1Istituto di Geologia dell'Universitá, Via S. Chiara 27, I-61029 Urbino, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Simone Galeotti Simone Galeotti 1Istituto di Geologia dell'Universitá, Via S. Chiara 27, I-61029 Urbino, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Rodolfo Coccioni 1Istituto di Geologia dell'Universitá, Via S. Chiara 27, I-61029 Urbino, Italy Simone Galeotti 1Istituto di Geologia dell'Universitá, Via S. Chiara 27, I-61029 Urbino, Italy Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1994) 22 (9): 779–782. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0779:KTBEGI>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Rodolfo Coccioni, Simone Galeotti; K-T boundary extinction: Geologically instantaneous or gradual event? Evidence from deep-sea benthic foraminifera. Geology 1994;; 22 (9): 779–782. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0779:KTBEGI>2.3.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 A stepped pattern of benthic foraminiferal decimation, survival, and recovery identified across the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary at Caravaca (southeast Spain) suggests that an exceptionally large influx of nutrients reached the sea floor suddenly, at the time of the K-T extinction event. Rapid reestablishment of pre-K-T boundary environmental conditions followed. Our data demonstrate a close coupling between the collapse of the ecologic system in the upper water column at Caravaca and a correspondent decimation of bottom dwellers on the sea floor. The dramatic environmental collapse of deep-water benthic foraminiferal communities at the end of the Cretaceous at Caravaca suggests that the K-T boundary event was geologically instantaneous and catastrophic. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.