What caused the extinction of dinosaurs?

The exact nature of this catastrophic event is still open to scientific debate. Evidence suggests an asteroid impact was the main culprit. Volcanic eruptions that caused large-scale climate change may also have been involved, together with more gradual changes to Earth’s climate that happened over millions of years.

Which extinction killed most of the dinosaurs?

Cretaceous-tertiary Extinction: 65 Million Years Ago Scientists refer to the major extinction that wiped out nonavian dinosaurs as the K-T extinction, because it happened at the end of the Cretaceous period and the beginning of the Tertiary period. Why not C-T? Geologists use “K” as a shorthand for Cretaceous.

What was the date of the dinosaur extinction?

Scientists have concluded that the impact that created this crater occurred 65 million years ago. The date corresponds perfectly to the date of the dinosaur extinction. Rare Metal. The metal iridium, which is similar to platinum, is very rare on Earth’s surface but is more common in asteroids and in molten rock deep within the planet.

How big was the impact that killed the dinosaurs?

This 150-kilometer-wide crater lies just off the Yucatan peninsula. Scientists calculate that it was blasted into Earth by a 10-kilometer-wide asteroid or comet traveling 30 kilometers per second — 150 times faster than a jet airliner. Scientists have concluded that the impact that created this crater occurred 65 million years ago.

What was found in the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs?

They found high levels of iridium – a rare element in Earth’s crust, but common in meteorites. They found shocked quartz – grains of quartz with telltale fractures from the blast wave of the impact, as well as evidence of molten rock thrown out from the impact blast.

What was the metal that killed the dinosaurs?

The date corresponds perfectly to the date of the dinosaur extinction. The metal iridium, which is similar to platinum, is very rare on Earth’s surface but is more common in asteroids and in molten rock deep within the planet.