Throughout history, the Earth has experienced several mass extinction events, wiping out entire species and ecosystems.
The most well-known and studied of these events is the one that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
One of the key pieces of evidence that helped scientists uncover the cause of this extinction event is the presence of iridium in the geological record. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the role of iridium in extinction events.
Iridium: What Is It?
Iridium is a rare metal that is one of the densest elements known to exist. It is also one of the least reactive elements, making it resistant to corrosion and oxidation. Due to its rarity and properties, iridium is often used in specialized applications such as electrical contacts, jewelry, and medical devices.
A Source of Mass Extinction
A theory suggests that iridium is associated with extraterrestrial impacts, such as asteroids or comets. When these objects hit the Earth, they release huge amounts of energy and ejecta, causing a variety of destructive effects.
One of the most significant is the creation of a global cloud of dust and debris that blocks out the sun, causing a dramatic cooling effect on the planet. This effect is known as a nuclear winter, and it can last for several years, severely impacting life on Earth.
How To Search For Iridium?
So where does iridium come in? The theory proposes that when an extraterrestrial object hits the Earth, it vaporizes a large amount of the impactor and the surrounding rock.
This vaporized material is then ejected into the atmosphere and dispersed around the globe. One of the elements that are commonly found in these impactor materials is iridium.
Therefore, when scientists find a layer of sediment or rock that contains a high concentration of iridium, it is evidence of a large extraterrestrial impact.
Who Discovered The Cause?
The link between iridium and mass extinction events was first discovered in the late 1970s by a team of scientists that Luis Alvarez led. Alvarez and his team were studying a layer of sediment in Italy that marked the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods, which is also known as the K-Pg boundary.
They found that this layer contained an unusually high concentration of iridium, which suggested that a large extraterrestrial impact had occurred around this time. Further sediment analysis revealed other evidence of an impact, such as shocked quartz and tektites (small glassy objects formed from melted rock).Connection To The End-Triassic Event And The Late Devonian Event
The discovery of the link between iridium and mass extinctions has since been confirmed in other studies, and it is now widely accepted as evidence of extraterrestrial impacts. In addition to the K-Pg boundary, other mass extinction events have been linked to iridium anomalies, including the end-Triassic and Late Devonian events.
Takeaway
The role of iridium in extinction events is a fascinating topic that sheds light on the history of our planet. By studying iridium anomalies, scientists can uncover evidence of extraterrestrial impacts and better understand the causes of mass extinction events. As we continue to study the geological record, we will likely discover more evidence of these events and continue to refine our understanding of the history of our planet.
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