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Journal of the Geological Society; 2003; v. 160; issue.5; p. 783-795;
DOI: 10.1144/0016-764902-119
© 2003 Geological Society of London

Original Article

Spherule deposits in Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary sediments in Belize and Guatemala

G. Keller1, W. Stinnesbeck2, T. Adatte3, B. Holland4, D. StÜben5, M. Harting5, C.de Leon6 & J.dela Cruz6

1 1Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA (e-mail: gkeller@princeton.edu)
2 2Geological Institute, University of Karlsruhe, P.O.B. 6980, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
3 3Geological Institute, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel CH-2007, Switzerland
4 4Belize Minerals Ltd., Punta Gorda, Belize
5 5Institute for Mineralogy and Geochemistry, University of Karlsruhe, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
6 6Perenco Guatemala Limited, 6a Av. 0–28 Zona 10, Guatemala 01010, Guatemala

Large spheroid deposits at Albion Island and Armenia in northern and central Belize and the spherule deposits of southern Belize and eastern Guatemala have the same glass origin based on the presence of almost pure Cheto smectite derived from alteration of impact glass from the Chicxulub impact on Yucatan, Mexico. The same origin has also been determined for altered glass spherules in Mexico, Haiti and the Caribbean. However, the spherule layers have variable ages as a result of erosion and redeposition, with an early Danian (Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina) zone Pla(1) age in southern Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, southern Mexico and the Caribbean, and a pre-K–T (Plummerita hantkeninoides) zone CF1 age of 65.27 ± 0.03 Ma in NE Mexico. A pre-K–T age for the Chicxulub impact has now also been determined from the new Yaxcopoil 1 core drilled in the impact crater. These data show that Chicxulub was not the K–T impact that caused the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, but an earlier impact event. A multiple impact hypothesis, volcanism and climate change appears the likely scenario for the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.

Key Words: Belize • Guatemala • K–T boundary • Chicxulub crater • spherules




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