How to Trace out Impact-Triggered Effects Globally Scattered around Formation Boundaries: Case Uhry, North Germany (Eocene/Oligocene Boundary)

Abstract

By focusing on impact-triggered phenomena having occurred synchronously with or shortly prior to formation boundaries, two glass sand pits (Upper Maastrichtian) located near Uhry, North Germany have been studied in regard to the K/T boundary throughout the last 40 years during progressive exploitation of glass sand. However, a clastic sequence of sand, mass flow and pelite deposited in a deep channel of about 10 -12 m in depth, eroded into the glass sand, surprisingly shows an Upper Eocene/Lower Oligocene age, well defined by a Dinocyst assemblage (Chiripteridium c. galea, Enneado cysta arcuata, Areoligera tauloma = D 12na -D 14na) from a 0.5 meter thick pelite that marks the Rupelian transgression within an estuarian system running northwest/southeastward. The section exposes a high energy mass flow and formerly solid frozen angular glass sand blocks of up to a meter-size embedded in fluvial sand of the channel base. Furthermore, erratic clastics of up to 0.4 meter in diameter appear at the pelite base. The "unusual" Dinocyst assemblage is of autochthonous origin and comprises the fresh water alga Pediastrum Kawraiskyias indicator for cold climate, hitherto only known from Quaternary. Missing pollen indicate a vegetation-less hinterland. Thus, there cannot be any doubt that around the E/O b. at least one "rare event" has happened as verified by short tremendous flooding and significant temperature fall ("cosmic winter"). According to the attitude of the global impact scientific community, these phenomena belong to the spectrum of "indirect effects" of major impacts. Radiometric ages of relevant major impact events underline that both impact craters of Popigai, Russia (100 Kilometer in diameter, 35.7 Ma) and Chesabreake, USA (85 Kilometer in diameter, 35.5 Ma) happened

Phanerozoic Quartz Arenite Formation and Sequence-Analytical Patterns: Indirectly Relating to Major Impacting and Super Plume Volcanism, Jordan, Arabian Plate

“…We relate this evidence of high acidity to the KPB-event (65 Ma) and/or to the later Popigai/Chesapeake-events (36.5/36.1 Ma) shortly prior to the Eocene/Oligocene b. (33.75 Ma), see for comparison [22]. Pre-KPB plume effects cannot be excluded.…”

The Permian-Triassic Transitional Zone: Jordan, Arabian Plate; Linked to Siberian Large Igneous Province and Neo-Tethys Breakup Degassing via Climate Forcing, Atmospheric Hazard and Metal Toxicity

“…One subject concerned Early Paleozoic and Lower Cretaceous quartz arenite fining upward cyclothems (FUC) on the Jordanian platform [4] [5], and another one focuses on end-Cretaceous transitional quartz arenite deposited in N Germany, northern Harz-foreland with regard to Deccan volcanism, India, Chicxulub impact, Mexico and volcanic arc origination (Lesser Antilles, Seychelles, Scotia) [6]; furthermore, at the latter locality (Uhry, Braunschweig County), the Eocene/Oligocene boundary in connection with both impact cratersPopigai, Russia and Chesapeake, USA [7].…”

End-Cretaceous Quartz Arenite Formation in an Estuarian Environment under Brine Influence, N. Germany; Linked to both Deccan Volcanism and Chicxulub Impact Degassing during Climate Change

“…Geologic map of the Subhercynian without Cenozoic overburden. Uh Uhry, Wa Walbeck (A), Section across (A) see profile line (B) slightly modified from[22], and photograph of Evers pit, Uhry (C): a Upper Maastrichtian quartz arenite (white), b Lower Eocene pelite (black), c Eocene/Oligocene boundary represented by fluvial sand and mass flow[27] overlain with d: Pleistocene glaciofluvial and morain deposits. Latitude 57˚97'500", Longitude 44˚22'600"/44˚22'160" including Schlingmeier pit both located in the NE-rim syncline of the Dorm/Beienrode Salt Diapir.…”