The massive chicxulub crater on mexico s yucatán peninsula is the fingerprint of a killer probably responsible for the destruction of more than 75 percent of life on earth including all. When craters exceed 2 to 4 kilometers in diameter on earth a central peak rises from the crater floor and the walls of the crater collapse to form a series of benches called the modification zone. Small craters like arizona s meteor crater are simple bowl like structures.
The chicxulub crater is a peak ring impact basin. It was formed by a large asteroid or comet about 11 to 81 kilometers in diameter the chicxulub impactor striking the earth. Its center is located near the town of chicxulub after which the crater is named.
The chicxulub crater is an impact crater buried underneath the yucatán peninsula in mexico. The buried structure which measures at least 180 km 112 miles across is thought to be the scar remaining from the impact 66 million years ago of an asteroid or comet measuring perhaps 10 km. Computer generated image of chicxulub crater chicxulub crater on the northern coast of the yucatán peninsula in mexico in a computer generated image synthesized from gravity and magnetic field data.
The yucatán peninsula is the site of the chicxulub crater impact which was created 66 million years ago by an asteroid of about 10 to 15 kilometres 6 to 9 miles in diameter at the end of the cretaceous period. The crater measures between 180 and 240 kilometres across indicating an impactor of colossal size the biggest impact confirmed on earth. The chicxulub crater on the yucatan peninsula is believed to be the most likely site of the asteroid impact responsible for the demise of the dinosaurs.
It was formed when a large asteroid or comet about 11 to 81 kilometers 6 8 to 50 3 miles in diameter known as the chicxulub impactor struck the earth. Its center is located offshore near the town of chicxulub after which the crater is named. Tʃʼikʃuluɓ is an impact crater buried underneath the yucatán peninsula in mexico.
The chicxulub crater ˈ tʃ iː k ʃ ʊ l uː b.
