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Fullerenes and interplanetary dust at the Permian-Triassic boundary
Robert J Poreda1, Luann Becker
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
Astrobiology
|June 14, 2003
Summary
A giant impact event at the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) likely caused Earth's largest mass extinction. New evidence reveals extraterrestrial fullerenes and interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) at the PTB, indicating distinct extraterrestrial sources.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Paleontology
- Planetary Science
Background:
- The Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) marks the most severe mass extinction event in Earth's history.
- Previous research suggested an impact event at the PTB.
- Fullerenes are novel extraterrestrial tracers capable of trapping noble gases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present new evidence for extraterrestrial fullerenes at the PTB in Antarctica.
- To identify the source of noble gases in PTB sediments.
- To differentiate between impact-related and interplanetary dust particle (IDP) contributions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fullerene-containing sediments from Graphite Peak, Antarctica.
- Noble gas isotopic analysis of bulk sediments and isolated magnetic fractions.
- Comparison of isotopic signatures with known extraterrestrial and terrestrial sources.
Main Results:
- Extraterrestrial fullerenes with trapped noble gases were identified at the PTB in Antarctica.
- A (3)He-rich magnetic fraction was isolated, showing isotopic compositions similar to interplanetary dust particles (IDPs).
- Helium and neon isotopic compositions in bulk sediments and magnetic fractions are consistent with solar-type gases from IDP flux.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the presence of extraterrestrial fullerenes at the PTB, supporting a giant impact hypothesis for the mass extinction.
- Distinct noble gas signatures indicate a dual extraterrestrial source: giant impacts (fullerenes) and IDP flux (solar-type gases).
- This research successfully decouples the fullerene tracer from the IDP tracer, providing clearer insights into PTB events.
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