Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary deposits at Loma Capiro, central Cuba: Evidence for the Chicxulub impact

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2005 Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary deposits at Loma Capiro, central Cuba: Evidence for the Chicxulub impact Laia Alegret; Laia Alegret 1Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, UK, and Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ignacio Arenillas; Ignacio Arenillas 2Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar José A. Arz; José A. Arz 2Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Consuelo Díaz; Consuelo Díaz 3Instituto de Geología y Paleontología, La Habana, Cuba Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar José M. Grajales-Nishimura; José M. Grajales-Nishimura 4Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, 07730 Mexico D.F., Mexico Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alfonso Meléndez; Alfonso Meléndez 5Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eustoquio Molina; Eustoquio Molina 5Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Reinaldo Rojas; Reinaldo Rojas 6Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 10100 La Habana, Cuba Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ana R. Soria Ana R. Soria 7Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Laia Alegret 1Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, UK, and Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Ignacio Arenillas 2Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain José A. Arz 2Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Consuelo Díaz 3Instituto de Geología y Paleontología, La Habana, Cuba José M. Grajales-Nishimura 4Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, 07730 Mexico D.F., Mexico Alfonso Meléndez 5Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Eustoquio Molina 5Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Reinaldo Rojas 6Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 10100 La Habana, Cuba Ana R. Soria 7Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Feb 2005 Revision Received: 13 May 2005 Accepted: 16 May 2005 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2005) 33 (9): 721–724. https://doi.org/10.1130/G21573.1 Article history Received: 01 Feb 2005 Revision Received: 13 May 2005 Accepted: 16 May 2005 First Online: 02 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 Laia Alegret, Ignacio Arenillas, José A. Arz, Consuelo Díaz, José M. Grajales-Nishimura, Alfonso Meléndez, Eustoquio Molina, Reinaldo Rojas, Ana R. Soria; Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary deposits at Loma Capiro, central Cuba: Evidence for the Chicxulub impact. Geology 2005;; 33 (9): 721–724. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G21573.1 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 A newly discovered Upper Cretaceous to lower Paleogene section at Loma Capiro (central Cuba) has provided new evidence for a Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary age for the Chicxulub impact. The studied sediments at Loma Capiro consist of a foraminifera-rich marl and sandstone hemipelagic sequence, and a 9.6-m-thick intercalated clastic complex. Planktic foraminifera indicate an upper Maastrichtian age for the sediments below the clastic complex and a lowermost Danian age for those just above this complex. Small benthic foraminifera from below and above the clastic complex indicate deposition at middle to lower bathyal depths. The fining-upward clastic complex consists of a basal breccia that is overlain by microconglomerates and coarse- to fine-grained sandstones. The clastic complex contains reworked foraminifera from different ages and different paleoenvironments and, toward the top, impact material such as altered microtektites, shocked quartz, terrestrial chondrules, and accretionary lapilli. These microfacies suggest deposition from gravity flows that eroded sediments from upper-slope and shelf settings and redeposited them in deeper bathyal environments. We suggest that the origin of the clastic complex may be linked to the collapse of the Cuban platform, triggered by the Cretaceous-Paleogene impact at Chicxulub. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.