Abstract
Accretionary impact spherules, some as large as 3.1 cm in diameter, occur within a fine-grained carbonate layer (an impactoclastic calcisiltite), which lies atop the terminal Cretaceous (latest Maastrichtian) paleosol in an outcrop located at the village of Armenia in central Belize. This fine-grained layer is interpreted as the vapor plume deposit from the Chicxulub impact structure and is composed of pulverized and comminuted carbonate mixed with clay. The accretionary impact spherules were formed by the aggradation of the vapor plume’s fine solid particles during turbulent flight over a distance of about 520 km from Chicxulub’s southern rim. These impact spherules, which are remarkably well-preserved, exhibit a nucleus of either rock or glass and one to three concentric coatings of finely-comminuted carbonate target rock. Coatings on individual spherules are non-graded and display fine-scale components such as silt inclusions, crystal-filled radial fractures, and microconglomerate layers.
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