‘Rock-solid’ case: Asteroid killed the dinosaurs

[IDemo]

Scientists say the debate over cause of ancient catastrophe is settled

By Leonard David
Space Insider columnist
updated 1:38 p.m. MT, Thurs., March. 4, 2010

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Scientists have debated for two decades whether a giant space rock wiped out the dinosaurs or if some other catastrophe did the deed.

Now, a blue-ribbon panel of scientists has banded together to support the link that ties the Chicxulub asteroid impact crater in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to the mass extinction of dinosaurs and the majority of life on our planet 65 million years ago.

"It is an international consensus. They are saying that there's a rock solid link between the Chicxulub impact event and the K-T boundary mass extinction," said David Kring, a senior staff scientist and geologist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.

The K-T boundary refers to a layer of iridium-rich clay that marks the end of the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago. Iridium is a chemical element commonly found in asteroids and comets, and the K-T boundary has been held up as the tail-ending tale of an asteroid impact that snuffed out the dinosaurs.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35712419/ns/technology_and_science-science/

[Faygo Kid]

1. Yep. As a dinosaur fanatic since 1960, got to go with this one.

The Permian Extinction may have been caused by the Siberian Traps. But the evidence is overwhelming that an asteroid/comet wiped out the dinosaurs, and quickly.

[HeresyLives]

2. Until new evidence shows up

and tosses it all in the dumpster.

[BeFree]

3. eh?

Having seen a fine line that is black like a layer of silt in some really old rock layers, am wondering if that is this iridium that the OP speaks of?

[StClone]

4. For the Curious: K-T Boundary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%E2%80%93T_boundary

[customerserviceguy]

5. No! That's a lie!

[StClone]

6. Yikes K-Tar Layer!

Done in Dino.