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Kara and Ust-Kara impact structures (USSR) and their relevance to the K/T boundary eventAmple evidence exists for at least one major meteorite impact event at the time of the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary, and it is therefore important to establish if any recognized terrestrial impact craters are K/T in age. The Kara, USSR, impact structure consists of two adjacent large impact craters (a rare and interesting geologic phenomenon), and it has been suggested that this twin impact structure might be related to the K/T boundary event. However, newly determined (Ar-40)/(Ar-39) and K-Ar ages presented here suggest that these structures are slightly older than 70 Ma, and may thus be too old for a 66 Ma K/T boundary event. Still, these two craters represent a substantial impact event that could have initiated regional, if not global, degradation of the biosphere. Their age suggests a possible relation with the Campanian/Maastrichtian boundary.
Document ID
19900062004
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Koeberl, Christian
(Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX; Wien, Universitaet Vienna, Austria)
Sharpton, Virgil
(Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Murali, A. V.
(Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Burke, Kevin
(Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Geology
Volume: 18
ISSN: 0091-7613
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
90A49059
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-4066
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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