Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization

Pim Kaskes; Sietze J de Graaff; Jean-Guillaume Feignon; Thomas Déhais; Steven Goderis; Ludovic Ferrière; Christian Koeberl; Jan Smit; Axel Wittmann; Sean P.S. Gulick; Vinciane Debaille; Nadine Mattielli; Philippe Claeys

doi:10.1130/B36020.1

Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization

Pim Kaskes, Sietze J de Graaff, Jean-Guillaume Feignon, Thomas Déhais, Steven Goderis, Ludovic Ferrière, Christian Koeberl, Jan Smit, Axel Wittmann, Sean P.S. Gulick, Vinciane Debaille, Nadine Mattielli, Philippe Claeys

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

679 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study presents a new classification of a ∼100-m-thick crater suevite sequence in the recent International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)-International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364 Hole M0077A drill core to better understand the formation of suevite on top of the Chicxulub peak ring. We provide an extensive data set for this succession that consists of whole-rock major and trace element compositional data (n = 212) and petrographic data supported by digital image analysis. The suevite sequence is subdivided into three units that are distinct in their petrography, geochemistry, and sedimentology, from base to top: the ∼5.6-m-thick non-graded suevite unit, the ∼89-m-thick graded suevite unit, and the ∼3.5-m-thick bedded suevite unit. All of these suevite units have isolated Cretaceous planktic foraminifera within their clastic groundmass, which suggests that marine processes were responsible for the deposition of the entire M0077A suevite sequence. The most likely scenario describes that the first ocean water that reached the northern peak ring region entered through a N-NE gap in the Chicxulub outer rim. We estimate that this ocean water arrived at Site M0077 within 30 minutes after the impact and was relatively poor in rock debris. This water caused intense quench fragmentation when it interacted with the underlying hot impact melt rock, and this resulted in the emplacement of the ∼5.6-m-thick hyaloclastite-like, non-graded suevite unit. In the following hours, the impact structure was flooded by an ocean resurge rich in rock debris, which caused the phreatomagmatic processes to stop and the ∼89-m-thick graded suevite unit to be deposited. We interpret that after the energy of the resurge slowly dissipated, oscillating seiche waves took over the sedimentary regime and formed the ∼3.5-m-thick bedded suevite unit. The final stages of the formation of the impactite sequence (estimated to be <20 years after impact) were dominated by resuspension and slow atmospheric settling, including the final deposition of Chicxulub impactor debris. Cumulatively, the Site M0077 suevite sequence from the Chicxulub impact site preserved a high-resolution record that provides an unprecedented window for unravelling the dynamics and timing of proximal marine cratering processes in the direct aftermath of a large impact event.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	895–927
Number of pages	33
Journal	Geological Society of America Bulletin
Volume	134
Issue number	3-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1130/B36020.1
Publication status	Published - Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We appreciate the constructive reviews from David King and Ralf Thomas Schmitt that have strengthened this manuscript. We also thank associate editor Wolf Uwe Reimold for his review and editorial handling. This research is financially supported by the Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) Project Chicxulub and the Research Foundation?Flanders (FWO) Project G0A6517N. Pim Kaskes thanks FWO for the awarded Ph.D. fellowship (Project 11E6619N, 11E6621N), and Philippe Claeys thanks the FWO?Hercules Program for financing the ?XRF instrument at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Steven Goderis, Vinciane Debaille, Nadine Matielli, and Philippe Claeys thank the Excellence of Science Project ?ET-HoME? for support. Vinciane Debaille also thanks FRS-FNRS for support. We are grateful to Quinten van Gaever (Ghent University), Sander op de Beeck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), and Ruben Vandijck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) for petrographic, ?XRF, and bulk geochemical analysis as part of their Masters? theses. Robin Francotte (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) is thanked for processing of ?XRF maps of thin sections. Wendy Debouge and Sabrina Cauchies (both Universit? Libre de Bruxelles) are thanked for their assistance with sample preparation and analytical procedures for bulk ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis at Laboratoire G-Time, Universit? Libre de Bruxelles. We thank Priya Laha (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) and Dan Topa (Natural History Museum, Vienna) for access to and assistance with scanning electron microscope and microprobe analyses. Partial funding in Vienna was provided by the University of Vienna doctoral school IK-1045 (P.I.: Christian Koeberl). We also thank Peter Nagl and Dieter Mader (both at University of Vienna) for help with bulk XRF and INAA work, respectively. Axel Wittmann received funding from National Science Foundation grant OCE-1737087. This research used samples and data provided by International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 364, which was jointly funded by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, with contributions and logistical support from the Yucat?n State Government and National Autonomous University of Mexico. This is University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Contribution #3781 and Center of Planetary Systems Habitability #0029.

Funding Information:
We appreciate the constructive reviews from David King and Ralf Thomas Schmitt that have strengthened this manuscript. We also thank associate editor Wolf Uwe Reimold for his review and editorial handling. This research is financially supported by the Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) Project Chicxulub and the Research Foundation\u2013Flanders (FWO) Project G0A6517N. Pim Kaskes thanks FWO for the awarded Ph.D. fellowship (Project 11E6619N, 11E6621N), and Philippe Claeys thanks the FWO\u2013Hercules Program for financing the \u00B5XRF instrument at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Steven Goderis, Vin-ciane Debaille, Nadine Matielli, and Philippe Claeys thank the Excellence of Science Project \u201CET-HoME\u201D for support. Vinciane Debaille also thanks FRS-FNRS for support. We are grateful to Quinten van Gaever (Ghent University), Sander op de Beeck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), and Ruben Vandijck (Katho-lieke Universiteit Leuven) for petrographic, \u00B5XRF, and bulk geochemical analysis as part of their Masters\u2019 theses. Robin Francotte (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) is thanked for processing of \u00B5XRF maps of thin sections. Wendy Debouge and Sabrina Cauchies (both Universit\u00E9 Libre de Bruxelles) are thanked for their assistance with sample preparation and analytical procedures for bulk ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis at Laboratoire G-Time, Universit\u00E9 Libre de Bruxelles. We thank Priya Laha (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) and Dan Topa (Natural History Museum, Vienna) for access to and assistance with scanning electron microscope and microprobe analyses. Partial funding in Vienna was provided by the University of Vienna doctoral school IK-1045 (P.I.: Christian Koe-berl). We also thank Peter Nagl and Dieter Mader (both at University of Vienna) for help with bulk XRF and INAA work, respectively. Axel Wittmann received funding from National Science Foundation grant OCE-1737087. This research used samples and data provided by International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 364, which was jointly funded by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, with contributions and logistical support from the Yucat\u00E1n State Government and National Autonomous University of Mexico. This is University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Contribution #3781 and Center of Planetary Systems Habitability #0029.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Gold Open Access

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10.1130/B36020.1Licence: CC BY

b36020Final published version, 15.5 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Kaskes, P., de Graaff, S. J., Feignon, J-G., Déhais, T., Goderis, S., Ferrière, L., Koeberl, C., Smit, J., Wittmann, A., Gulick, S. P. S., Debaille, V., Mattielli, N., & Claeys, P. (2022). Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 134(3-4), 895–927. https://doi.org/10.1130/B36020.1

Kaskes, Pim ; de Graaff, Sietze J ; Feignon, Jean-Guillaume ; Déhais, Thomas ; Goderis, Steven ; Ferrière, Ludovic ; Koeberl, Christian ; Smit, Jan ; Wittmann, Axel ; Gulick, Sean P.S. ; Debaille, Vinciane ; Mattielli, Nadine ; Claeys, Philippe. / Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization. In: Geological Society of America Bulletin. 2022 ; Vol. 134, No. 3-4. pp. 895–927.

@article{173bd10fb16c4a3791fb170632c4458b,

title = "Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization",

abstract = "This study presents a new classification of a ∼100-m-thick crater suevite sequence in the recent International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)-International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364 Hole M0077A drill core to better understand the formation of suevite on top of the Chicxulub peak ring. We provide an extensive data set for this succession that consists of whole-rock major and trace element compositional data (n = 212) and petrographic data supported by digital image analysis. The suevite sequence is subdivided into three units that are distinct in their petrography, geochemistry, and sedimentology, from base to top: the ∼5.6-m-thick non-graded suevite unit, the ∼89-m-thick graded suevite unit, and the ∼3.5-m-thick bedded suevite unit. All of these suevite units have isolated Cretaceous planktic foraminifera within their clastic groundmass, which suggests that marine processes were responsible for the deposition of the entire M0077A suevite sequence. The most likely scenario describes that the first ocean water that reached the northern peak ring region entered through a N-NE gap in the Chicxulub outer rim. We estimate that this ocean water arrived at Site M0077 within 30 minutes after the impact and was relatively poor in rock debris. This water caused intense quench fragmentation when it interacted with the underlying hot impact melt rock, and this resulted in the emplacement of the ∼5.6-m-thick hyaloclastite-like, non-graded suevite unit. In the following hours, the impact structure was flooded by an ocean resurge rich in rock debris, which caused the phreatomagmatic processes to stop and the ∼89-m-thick graded suevite unit to be deposited. We interpret that after the energy of the resurge slowly dissipated, oscillating seiche waves took over the sedimentary regime and formed the ∼3.5-m-thick bedded suevite unit. The final stages of the formation of the impactite sequence (estimated to be <20 years after impact) were dominated by resuspension and slow atmospheric settling, including the final deposition of Chicxulub impactor debris. Cumulatively, the Site M0077 suevite sequence from the Chicxulub impact site preserved a high-resolution record that provides an unprecedented window for unravelling the dynamics and timing of proximal marine cratering processes in the direct aftermath of a large impact event.",

author = "Pim Kaskes and {de Graaff}, {Sietze J} and Jean-Guillaume Feignon and Thomas D{\'e}hais and Steven Goderis and Ludovic Ferri{\`e}re and Christian Koeberl and Jan Smit and Axel Wittmann and Gulick, {Sean P.S.} and Vinciane Debaille and Nadine Mattielli and Philippe Claeys",

note = "Funding Information: We appreciate the constructive reviews from David King and Ralf Thomas Schmitt that have strengthened this manuscript. We also thank associate editor Wolf Uwe Reimold for his review and editorial handling. This research is financially supported by the Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) Project Chicxulub and the Research Foundation?Flanders (FWO) Project G0A6517N. Pim Kaskes thanks FWO for the awarded Ph.D. fellowship (Project 11E6619N, 11E6621N), and Philippe Claeys thanks the FWO?Hercules Program for financing the ?XRF instrument at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Steven Goderis, Vinciane Debaille, Nadine Matielli, and Philippe Claeys thank the Excellence of Science Project ?ET-HoME? for support. Vinciane Debaille also thanks FRS-FNRS for support. We are grateful to Quinten van Gaever (Ghent University), Sander op de Beeck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), and Ruben Vandijck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) for petrographic, ?XRF, and bulk geochemical analysis as part of their Masters? theses. Robin Francotte (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) is thanked for processing of ?XRF maps of thin sections. Wendy Debouge and Sabrina Cauchies (both Universit? Libre de Bruxelles) are thanked for their assistance with sample preparation and analytical procedures for bulk ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis at Laboratoire G-Time, Universit? Libre de Bruxelles. We thank Priya Laha (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) and Dan Topa (Natural History Museum, Vienna) for access to and assistance with scanning electron microscope and microprobe analyses. Partial funding in Vienna was provided by the University of Vienna doctoral school IK-1045 (P.I.: Christian Koeberl). We also thank Peter Nagl and Dieter Mader (both at University of Vienna) for help with bulk XRF and INAA work, respectively. Axel Wittmann received funding from National Science Foundation grant OCE-1737087. This research used samples and data provided by International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 364, which was jointly funded by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, with contributions and logistical support from the Yucat?n State Government and National Autonomous University of Mexico. This is University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Contribution #3781 and Center of Planetary Systems Habitability #0029. Funding Information: We appreciate the constructive reviews from David King and Ralf Thomas Schmitt that have strengthened this manuscript. We also thank associate editor Wolf Uwe Reimold for his review and editorial handling. This research is financially supported by the Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) Project Chicxulub and the Research Foundation\u2013Flanders (FWO) Project G0A6517N. Pim Kaskes thanks FWO for the awarded Ph.D. fellowship (Project 11E6619N, 11E6621N), and Philippe Claeys thanks the FWO\u2013Hercules Program for financing the \u00B5XRF instrument at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Steven Goderis, Vin-ciane Debaille, Nadine Matielli, and Philippe Claeys thank the Excellence of Science Project \u201CET-HoME\u201D for support. Vinciane Debaille also thanks FRS-FNRS for support. We are grateful to Quinten van Gaever (Ghent University), Sander op de Beeck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), and Ruben Vandijck (Katho-lieke Universiteit Leuven) for petrographic, \u00B5XRF, and bulk geochemical analysis as part of their Masters\u2019 theses. Robin Francotte (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) is thanked for processing of \u00B5XRF maps of thin sections. Wendy Debouge and Sabrina Cauchies (both Universit\u00E9 Libre de Bruxelles) are thanked for their assistance with sample preparation and analytical procedures for bulk ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis at Laboratoire G-Time, Universit\u00E9 Libre de Bruxelles. We thank Priya Laha (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) and Dan Topa (Natural History Museum, Vienna) for access to and assistance with scanning electron microscope and microprobe analyses. Partial funding in Vienna was provided by the University of Vienna doctoral school IK-1045 (P.I.: Christian Koe-berl). We also thank Peter Nagl and Dieter Mader (both at University of Vienna) for help with bulk XRF and INAA work, respectively. Axel Wittmann received funding from National Science Foundation grant OCE-1737087. This research used samples and data provided by International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 364, which was jointly funded by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, with contributions and logistical support from the Yucat\u00E1n State Government and National Autonomous University of Mexico. This is University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Contribution #3781 and Center of Planetary Systems Habitability #0029. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. Gold Open Access",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1130/B36020.1",

language = "English",

volume = "134",

pages = "895–927",

journal = "Geological Society of America Bulletin",

issn = "0016-7606",

publisher = "Geological Society of America",

number = "3-4",

}

Kaskes, P, de Graaff, SJ, Feignon, J-G , Déhais, T , Goderis, S, Ferrière, L, Koeberl, C, Smit, J, Wittmann, A, Gulick, SPS, Debaille, V, Mattielli, N & Claeys, P 2022, 'Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization', Geological Society of America Bulletin, vol. 134, no. 3-4, pp. 895–927. https://doi.org/10.1130/B36020.1

Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization. / Kaskes, Pim; de Graaff, Sietze J; Feignon, Jean-Guillaume ; Déhais, Thomas ; Goderis, Steven; Ferrière, Ludovic; Koeberl, Christian; Smit, Jan; Wittmann, Axel; Gulick, Sean P.S.; Debaille, Vinciane; Mattielli, Nadine; Claeys, Philippe.

In: Geological Society of America Bulletin, Vol. 134, No. 3-4, 03.2022, p. 895–927.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization

AU - Kaskes, Pim

AU - de Graaff, Sietze J

AU - Feignon, Jean-Guillaume

AU - Déhais, Thomas

AU - Goderis, Steven

AU - Ferrière, Ludovic

AU - Koeberl, Christian

AU - Smit, Jan

AU - Wittmann, Axel

AU - Gulick, Sean P.S.

AU - Debaille, Vinciane

AU - Mattielli, Nadine

AU - Claeys, Philippe

N1 - Funding Information: We appreciate the constructive reviews from David King and Ralf Thomas Schmitt that have strengthened this manuscript. We also thank associate editor Wolf Uwe Reimold for his review and editorial handling. This research is financially supported by the Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) Project Chicxulub and the Research Foundation?Flanders (FWO) Project G0A6517N. Pim Kaskes thanks FWO for the awarded Ph.D. fellowship (Project 11E6619N, 11E6621N), and Philippe Claeys thanks the FWO?Hercules Program for financing the ?XRF instrument at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Steven Goderis, Vinciane Debaille, Nadine Matielli, and Philippe Claeys thank the Excellence of Science Project ?ET-HoME? for support. Vinciane Debaille also thanks FRS-FNRS for support. We are grateful to Quinten van Gaever (Ghent University), Sander op de Beeck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), and Ruben Vandijck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) for petrographic, ?XRF, and bulk geochemical analysis as part of their Masters? theses. Robin Francotte (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) is thanked for processing of ?XRF maps of thin sections. Wendy Debouge and Sabrina Cauchies (both Universit? Libre de Bruxelles) are thanked for their assistance with sample preparation and analytical procedures for bulk ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis at Laboratoire G-Time, Universit? Libre de Bruxelles. We thank Priya Laha (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) and Dan Topa (Natural History Museum, Vienna) for access to and assistance with scanning electron microscope and microprobe analyses. Partial funding in Vienna was provided by the University of Vienna doctoral school IK-1045 (P.I.: Christian Koeberl). We also thank Peter Nagl and Dieter Mader (both at University of Vienna) for help with bulk XRF and INAA work, respectively. Axel Wittmann received funding from National Science Foundation grant OCE-1737087. This research used samples and data provided by International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 364, which was jointly funded by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, with contributions and logistical support from the Yucat?n State Government and National Autonomous University of Mexico. This is University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Contribution #3781 and Center of Planetary Systems Habitability #0029. Funding Information: We appreciate the constructive reviews from David King and Ralf Thomas Schmitt that have strengthened this manuscript. We also thank associate editor Wolf Uwe Reimold for his review and editorial handling. This research is financially supported by the Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) Project Chicxulub and the Research Foundation\u2013Flanders (FWO) Project G0A6517N. Pim Kaskes thanks FWO for the awarded Ph.D. fellowship (Project 11E6619N, 11E6621N), and Philippe Claeys thanks the FWO\u2013Hercules Program for financing the \u00B5XRF instrument at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Steven Goderis, Vin-ciane Debaille, Nadine Matielli, and Philippe Claeys thank the Excellence of Science Project \u201CET-HoME\u201D for support. Vinciane Debaille also thanks FRS-FNRS for support. We are grateful to Quinten van Gaever (Ghent University), Sander op de Beeck (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), and Ruben Vandijck (Katho-lieke Universiteit Leuven) for petrographic, \u00B5XRF, and bulk geochemical analysis as part of their Masters\u2019 theses. Robin Francotte (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) is thanked for processing of \u00B5XRF maps of thin sections. Wendy Debouge and Sabrina Cauchies (both Universit\u00E9 Libre de Bruxelles) are thanked for their assistance with sample preparation and analytical procedures for bulk ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis at Laboratoire G-Time, Universit\u00E9 Libre de Bruxelles. We thank Priya Laha (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) and Dan Topa (Natural History Museum, Vienna) for access to and assistance with scanning electron microscope and microprobe analyses. Partial funding in Vienna was provided by the University of Vienna doctoral school IK-1045 (P.I.: Christian Koe-berl). We also thank Peter Nagl and Dieter Mader (both at University of Vienna) for help with bulk XRF and INAA work, respectively. Axel Wittmann received funding from National Science Foundation grant OCE-1737087. This research used samples and data provided by International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 364, which was jointly funded by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, with contributions and logistical support from the Yucat\u00E1n State Government and National Autonomous University of Mexico. This is University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Contribution #3781 and Center of Planetary Systems Habitability #0029. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Gold Open Access

PY - 2022/3

Y1 - 2022/3

N2 - This study presents a new classification of a ∼100-m-thick crater suevite sequence in the recent International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)-International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364 Hole M0077A drill core to better understand the formation of suevite on top of the Chicxulub peak ring. We provide an extensive data set for this succession that consists of whole-rock major and trace element compositional data (n = 212) and petrographic data supported by digital image analysis. The suevite sequence is subdivided into three units that are distinct in their petrography, geochemistry, and sedimentology, from base to top: the ∼5.6-m-thick non-graded suevite unit, the ∼89-m-thick graded suevite unit, and the ∼3.5-m-thick bedded suevite unit. All of these suevite units have isolated Cretaceous planktic foraminifera within their clastic groundmass, which suggests that marine processes were responsible for the deposition of the entire M0077A suevite sequence. The most likely scenario describes that the first ocean water that reached the northern peak ring region entered through a N-NE gap in the Chicxulub outer rim. We estimate that this ocean water arrived at Site M0077 within 30 minutes after the impact and was relatively poor in rock debris. This water caused intense quench fragmentation when it interacted with the underlying hot impact melt rock, and this resulted in the emplacement of the ∼5.6-m-thick hyaloclastite-like, non-graded suevite unit. In the following hours, the impact structure was flooded by an ocean resurge rich in rock debris, which caused the phreatomagmatic processes to stop and the ∼89-m-thick graded suevite unit to be deposited. We interpret that after the energy of the resurge slowly dissipated, oscillating seiche waves took over the sedimentary regime and formed the ∼3.5-m-thick bedded suevite unit. The final stages of the formation of the impactite sequence (estimated to be <20 years after impact) were dominated by resuspension and slow atmospheric settling, including the final deposition of Chicxulub impactor debris. Cumulatively, the Site M0077 suevite sequence from the Chicxulub impact site preserved a high-resolution record that provides an unprecedented window for unravelling the dynamics and timing of proximal marine cratering processes in the direct aftermath of a large impact event.

AB - This study presents a new classification of a ∼100-m-thick crater suevite sequence in the recent International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)-International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364 Hole M0077A drill core to better understand the formation of suevite on top of the Chicxulub peak ring. We provide an extensive data set for this succession that consists of whole-rock major and trace element compositional data (n = 212) and petrographic data supported by digital image analysis. The suevite sequence is subdivided into three units that are distinct in their petrography, geochemistry, and sedimentology, from base to top: the ∼5.6-m-thick non-graded suevite unit, the ∼89-m-thick graded suevite unit, and the ∼3.5-m-thick bedded suevite unit. All of these suevite units have isolated Cretaceous planktic foraminifera within their clastic groundmass, which suggests that marine processes were responsible for the deposition of the entire M0077A suevite sequence. The most likely scenario describes that the first ocean water that reached the northern peak ring region entered through a N-NE gap in the Chicxulub outer rim. We estimate that this ocean water arrived at Site M0077 within 30 minutes after the impact and was relatively poor in rock debris. This water caused intense quench fragmentation when it interacted with the underlying hot impact melt rock, and this resulted in the emplacement of the ∼5.6-m-thick hyaloclastite-like, non-graded suevite unit. In the following hours, the impact structure was flooded by an ocean resurge rich in rock debris, which caused the phreatomagmatic processes to stop and the ∼89-m-thick graded suevite unit to be deposited. We interpret that after the energy of the resurge slowly dissipated, oscillating seiche waves took over the sedimentary regime and formed the ∼3.5-m-thick bedded suevite unit. The final stages of the formation of the impactite sequence (estimated to be <20 years after impact) were dominated by resuspension and slow atmospheric settling, including the final deposition of Chicxulub impactor debris. Cumulatively, the Site M0077 suevite sequence from the Chicxulub impact site preserved a high-resolution record that provides an unprecedented window for unravelling the dynamics and timing of proximal marine cratering processes in the direct aftermath of a large impact event.

UR - https://doi.org/10.1130/B36020.1

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113288682&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1130/B36020.1

DO - 10.1130/B36020.1

M3 - Article

VL - 134

SP - 895

EP - 927

JO - Geological Society of America Bulletin

JF - Geological Society of America Bulletin

SN - 0016-7606

IS - 3-4

ER -

Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization

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Formation of the crater suevite sequence from the Chicxulub peak ring: A petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological characterization

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