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Timing and causes of forest fire at the K–Pg boundary

Title	Timing and causes of forest fire at the K–Pg boundary
Authors	A. Santa Catharina, B. C. Kneller, J. C. Marques, A. D. McArthur, S. R. S. Cevallos-Ferriz, T. Theurer, I. A. Kane, D. Muirhead
Magazine	Scientific Reports
Date	07/29/2022
DOI	10.1038/s41598-022-17292-y
Introduction	This study presents K-Pg-age geological formations in Baja California, Mexico, comprising terrestrial and shallow-marine substances re-deposited onto the continental slope. These materials include corals, gastropods, bivalves, shocked quartz grains, an andesitic tuff dated by SHRIMP U-Pb to 66.12 ± 0.65 Ma—a timing consistent with the K-Pg boundary—and carbonised tree trunks. Subsequent mudstone layers exhibit an iridium enrichment and elevated concentrations of fungal and fern spores. These varied formations result from the Chicxulub impact event and a subsequent mega-tsunami triggered by seismic landsliding. The tsunami's receding waters transported large plant matter offshore through high-density currents, also moving shallow-marine life and sediment. The charring of trees, reaching temperatures exceeding 1 000 °C, occurred within minutes between the impact and the tsunami's arrival, as indicated by seismic velocities and historical comparisons. This analysis provides insights into the chronology and origins of these fires and the minimal range from the impact location where such fires could have started.
Quote	A. Santa Catharina, B. C. Kneller and J. C. Marques et al. Timing and causes of forest fire at the K–Pg boundary. Sci Rep. 2022. Vol. 12. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17292-y
Element	Iridium (Ir) , Uranium (U) , Silicon (Si) , Carbon (C)
Materials	Biopolymers
Topics	Environmental and Green Materials , Structural Materials , Computational Materials Science
Industry	Research & Laboratory

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