Effect of a giant meteorite impact on Paleoarchean surface environments and life.

ABSTRACT: Large meteorite impacts must have strongly affected the habitability of the early Earth. Rocks of the Archean Eon record at least 16 major impact events, involving bolides larger than 10 km in diameter. These impacts probably had severe, albeit temporary, consequences for surface environments. However, their effect on early life is not well understood. Here, we analyze the sedimentology, petrography, and carbon isotope geochemistry of sedimentary rocks across the S2 impact event (37 to 58 km carbonaceous chondrite) forming part of the 3.26 Ga Fig Tree Group, South Africa, to evaluate its environmental effects and biological consequences. The impact initiated 1) a giant tsunami that mixed Fe²⁺-rich deep waters into the Fe²⁺-poor shallow waters and washed debris into co

SUBMITTER: Drabon N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11536127 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature