Basinward transport of Chicxulub ejecta by tsunami-induced backflow, La Popa basin, northeastern Mexico, and its implications for distribution of impact-related deposits flanking the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 2005 Basinward transport of Chicxulub ejecta by tsunami-induced backflow, La Popa basin, northeastern Mexico, and its implications for distribution of impact-related deposits flanking the Gulf of Mexico Timothy F. Lawton; Timothy F. Lawton 1Institute of Tectonic Studies, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kyle W. Shipley; Kyle W. Shipley 1Institute of Tectonic Studies, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jennifer L. Aschoff; Jennifer L. Aschoff 1Institute of Tectonic Studies, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Katherine A. Giles; Katherine A. Giles 1Institute of Tectonic Studies, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Francisco J. Vega Francisco J. Vega 2Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, D.F. 04510, México Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2005) 33 (2): 81–84. https://doi.org/10.1130/G21057.1 Article history received: 03 Aug 2004 rev-recd: 22 Oct 2004 accepted: 24 Oct 2004 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Timothy F. Lawton, Kyle W. Shipley, Jennifer L. Aschoff, Katherine A. Giles, Francisco J. Vega; Basinward transport of Chicxulub ejecta by tsunami-induced backflow, La Popa basin, northeastern Mexico, and its implications for distribution of impact-related deposits flanking the Gulf of Mexico. Geology 2005;; 33 (2): 81–84. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G21057.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Ejecta-bearing strata are present at the top of Cretaceous foreland-basin deposits throughout the La Popa basin in northeastern Mexico. In the southeast part of the basin, locally thick (as much as 4.6 m) ejecta-rich conglomeratic strata occupy valley-like features at a bathymetric break that separated Maastrichtian upper shoreface from lower shoreface and prodelta depositional settings. Clast-supported textures, normally graded planar conglomerate-sandstone couplets, upcurrent-dipping low-angle cross-laminae, sparse paleocurrent data, and transported fossils indicate deposition by south- to southeast-directed turbulent, supercritical flow. In the northwest part of the basin, ejecta grains are present but less common in correlative deposits. Sediment, ejecta, and organisms were eroded from shoreward environments and transported basinward by backflow of run-up surge(s) emplaced against the continent by one or several tsunami(s). High-discharge, supercritical offshore-directed flow provides a mechanism for transport of voluminous, ejecta-bearing sediment and late Maastrichtian marine organisms into deep-water Gulf of Mexico settings. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.