K-Pg Boundary Beloc Haiti Chicxulub Microslide

This microslide contains K-Pg boundary microtektites from Beloc, Haiti. Extinction rock from this region reveals the high degree of devastation this meteorite impact created ~66 million years ago. This asteroid impact event ended the age of the non-avian dinosaurs and other life. An abundance of evidence supports the impact origin of the K-Pg from Haiti.

The Beloc Formation is the most important rock unit in Haiti. It is located on the southern Peninsula, and numerous outcrops show the transition between the Cretaceous (K) and Paleogene (Pg) in the boundary event marker beds. The composite structures of the Beloc boundary bed have been argued to be of turbidity, ejecta, or oscillatory waves triggered by the fallout from the impact event in water. The structure, in general, consists of this K-Pg boundary bed consisting of altered tektites, lenses of coarser tektites, cross-bedding, and marl with high iridium values.

In detail, the K-Pg layers consist of a basal unit containing impact ejecta (shocked quartz PDFs and spherules), with an overlaying of coarse laminated sandstone derived from coastal areas and topped by ripples of fine sand and iridium-rich silts. This succession contains impact markers at its base and top and is interpreted as rapidly being deposited within a few minutes. The spherules are usually rounded, but many display elongated dumbbell or teardrop shapes similar to splash form tektites or microtektites. 

The glass particles found in the Beloc Formation range in size from 0.1 to 5 mm and can be classified based on their colors of black and yellow. The pictures taken at higher magnifications of this material reveals shattered quartz (PDFs), clay interspersed with various meteorite material and smectite, worn opal clasts, and the remnants of soot particles intertwined and embedded in clay.

Photo descriptions (after the front and back of slides): #1 - Chicxulub meteorite microscopic up-close magnification 4.5X Beloc, Haiti.#2 - Shredded meteoritic debris embedded in clay with sheared opal. #3 - Shocked quartz #4 - Shocked quartz with clay, soot, associated microparticles, and microtektites. #5. Overview of Beloc, Haiti, material containing material from the K-Pg boundary layer, Yucatan detailing soot, ash, clays, and microscopic particles.

Microslide Size: 75mm L X 25mm W X 4mm D, Microslide well size: 12mm Diameter. Ships with information and Certificate of Authenticity. Small black plastic display stand included.

Note: There is enough material to fill up the microslide well. The material is loose and not encased in leucite.

Extra Information: Haiti contains the second-largest reserves of iridium on Earth. There is a reason for that: it is located near the Chicxulub impact in Yucatan. Iridium is one of the rarest metals in the world and is a strategic element involved in technology. It is interesting that an impact event from long ago majorly influenced an essential part of the Haitian economy today!

This is an excellent microslide, helpful in studying the dynamics of the K-Pg boundary.

This scientific material is Guaranteed Authentic. It was professionally and legally collected and arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity.