A large meteoritic event over Antarctica ca. 430 ka ago inferred from chondritic spherules from the Sør Rondane Mountains
Matthias Van Ginneken, Steven Goderis, N. A. Artemieva, Vinciane Debaille, Sophie Decrée, R. P. Harvey, K. A. Huwig, Lutz Hecht, Shuying Yang, Felix Kaufmann, Bastien Soens, M. Humayun, Flore Van Maldeghem, M. J. Genge, Philippe Claeys
Abstract
O-poor oxygen isotope signatures allow us to hypothesize that the impact particles result from a touchdown event, in which a projectile vapor jet interacts with the Antarctic ice sheet. Numerical models support a touchdown scenario. This study has implications for the identification and inventory of large cosmic events on Earth.
Topics & Concepts
GeologyAstrobiologyEvent (particle physics)Ice sheetChondriteAntarctic ice sheetGeochemistryEarth sciencePaleontologyMeteoriteGeomorphologyCryosphereOceanographySea icePhysicsAstrophysicsGeology and Paleoclimatology ResearchAstro and Planetary SciencePlanetary Science and Exploration