An Investigation of the Cretaceous Impact of the Beaverhead Asteroid

By: Delbert S. Duncan d3co@comcast.net

Abstract: In 1980 Walter Alvarez, et al, hypothesized that a single large asteroid, or comet had impacted earth, and caused the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period 1. Scientists and researchers have since long debated this issue in an attempt to determine the exact cause of the KT extinction. In 1991 researchers found evidence of a large impact crater located near Chicxulub, Mexico, and this seemed to support the Alvarez theory of a single large bolide causing this extinction. Research ac-

complished since 1991 has shown that a better explanation for this extinction event is that multiple bolides impacted earth at, or near the same time. Research work by Gerta Keller, et al, has shown that volcanism in the Deccan Traps also contributed to the KT mass extinction 2. The combination of volcanism and multiple bolides impacting earth near the time of the KT mass extinction offers compelling evidence that the Chicxulub impact event was not the sole cause of this extinction.

In 1989 Rob Hargraves identified shattercone sandstone cobbles in a glacial till in the Tendoy Mountains in southwestern Montana. Subsequent investigations by Hargraves, et al, discovered shattercones in Precambrian sandstones and gneisses within this area, as well 3. This was the discovery of the Beaverhead impact structure. The geology in southwestern Montana is very complex, and this has caused a problem with trying to establish an age for this impact event. The age of the Beaverhead impact event was first estimated to be about 1000 MYA. This date was later adjusted when radiometric dating moved the date to between 875 MYA and 900 MYA. The date was again adjusted when newly discovered fossil evidence determined that the age could be no more than 600 MYA. This age date has been reported in the Earth Impact Database as ~600 MYA, which of course is not the same definition. Paleomagnetic tests were conducted on pseudotachylite samples from this area, and showed results consistent with a Tertiary age. Other radiometric tests, and shock metamorphism found in Cretaceous formations, conducted in this area have shown an age for this impact structure that was Cretaceous. It is obvious that the geochronologic data cannot be easily reconciled. Perhaps it is time to step back, and look at another approach. There was a massive crater excavation when the Beaverhead asteroid impacted earth. The bolide itself probably vaporized

upon impact, but large quantities of terrestrial earthen material was spread over a wide area. This strewnfield should appear as a thin layer of ejecta. The stratigraphic relation of this strewnfield will make it possible to date the Beaverhead impact event. Introduction The ejecta of the Beaverhead impact event should appear as a thin granular layer of angular rock grains that are sand size, and containing larger angular rock fragments. This ejecta material will contain melt glass, possible spherules, quartz particles with planar deformation features (PDF's), possible coesite or stishovite, and mineralization including the platinum group, as well as the minerals from the country rock of southwestern Montana. The strewnfield of the Beaverhead impact event has been difficult to indentify because it has been hiding in plain sight. The error in dating this event correctly caused researchers to look in the wrong place, and the general acceptance of the Alvarez theory of a single asteroid impact event causing the KT extinction caused researchers to completely overlook the possibility that the Beaverhead ejecta material was at the KT boundary. The KT boundary, in the Hell Creek formation, located in Garfield County, Montana is comprised of a white colored spherulitic layer overlain by an iridium bearing tan colored layer with the z-coal layer above. This boundary material has been at2

and is typically larger particles, that can contain broken, fragmented rock pieces that were torn from the crater during the impact explosion. The Beaverhead impact explosion caused these larger pieces to come to the Hell Creek formation on a trajectory, as they would not float over great distances in the atmosphere. The white colored spherulitic layer is of a finer particle size, and may be of Chicxulub impact origin. The weathering that was observed on this white layer would indicate that the Beaverhead impact event occurred after the Chicxulub impact event by some span of time. Investigation: In June of 1998 the KT boundary was sampled near Brownie Butte, in Garfield County, Montana. The sample site location was Latitude 47 31' 48.6" N.; Longitude 107 00' 29.2" W.; at an elevation of 2778 feet. This material, as sampled, has been used throughout this treatise for all testing, and imagery. The tan layer of the KT boundary consists of coarse sand size particles with large quartz particles, and fragmented rock pieces. Research work by B.E. Bohor and G.A. Lzett has shown that the shocked quartz particle size is larger near Brownie Butte, in Montana than most other locations that they tested from around the world 7. This led them to believe that the impact structure had to be in North America. Other sites in North America with large shocked quartz
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tributed by many, to have been derived from the Chicxulub impact event. Observations by David E. Fastovsky, et al, have shown that the white colored layer was weathered prior to the tan layer being laid down4. This weathering creates a span of time between these two layers, and establishes these layers as coming from two separate events. Current geochemical techniques are sensitive and precise enough to extract important information about the impact event from small particles, and it is possible to determine from a small sample of ejecta material, the age of the impact event, and the geochemical characteristics of the target rock involved 5. The particle size of these KT boundary materials is important. Distal ejecta from an asteroid impact event is typically 1 mm, and is spread over an area greater than 5 R. (R = impact crater radius) from the crater 6. Ejecta material that is located less than 5 R. from the crater is called proximal ejecta,

particles were: Raton Basin, Colorado, and Red Deer Valley, Alberta. About half way along a direct line between these two points lays the Beaverhead impact structure. The tan layer is rich in quartz, and other silica minerals. Mineralogical evidence suggested that the asteroid struck an area of highly silicic target rocks. This would be consistent with the mineralogical environment of the Beaverhead area. The following image is of a large quartz par-

the tan colored layer of the KT sample that shows melt glass, and lechatelierite. This rock weighs 5.4496 grams, and is compelling evidence that the tan layer is proximal

ejecta. The sample material from the Kt boundary was split, and a portion sent to Tim McElvain to be examined with a petrographic microscope. The following photomicrograph was taken with the petrographic microscope, and cross polarized light. This image is of a quartz particle showing shock metamorphism. The planar deformation features in quartz particles define this material as being impact ejecta.

ticle from the sample site tan layer of the KT boundary. This particle has imbedded mineralization that includes possible gold, silver, and lead. This mineralization also occurs in southwestern Montana. This would not be normal for Chicxulub, Mexico. Research work on the Yaxcopoil 1 deep core drill in the Chicxulub crater has shown a trace of gold at 0.00054 ppm 8. This concentration of gold is of a magnitude equal to what might be expected in ordinary seawater. The following image is of a broken fragmented particle of target rock taken from

spherules with particles of free gold. This type of mineralization is not found in

The above photomicrograph was taken with a scientific microscope at 1600x, looking through a quartz particle from the sample material tan layer. This image shows the presents of multiple intersecting sets of shock lamellae. This particle is over one millimeter across, and is much larger than the particles found by B.F. Bohor, et al. During the microscopic examination of the tan layer material the following coesite crystal was photographed. The presence of

Chicxulub, Mexico. Chondrite asteroids sometimes carry gold, or other minerals, but this gold has a terrestrial source. The following photomicrograph shows a quartz particle with gold. Quartz never develops in

trace quantities of coesite, or stishovite is indicative of impact ejecta sedimentation. The following photomicrograph shows

an asteroid. The development of a mineralization profile for the tan layer of the KT boundary will show that the only source for these minerals is southwestern Montana. This area was the target rock for the Beaverhead asteroid impact, and the ejecta material from this impact is found at the KT boundary at Hell Creek.
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TABLE No. 1 Mineralization Profile

All values are in Parts per Million unless otherwise noted.
Element Silver Aluminum Arsenic Gold Boron Barium Beryllium Bismuth Calcium Cadmium Cerium Cobalt Chromium Cesium Copper Iron Gallium Germanium Hafnium Mercury Indium Potassium Lanthanum Lithium Magnesium Manganese Molybdenum Sodium Niobium Nickel Phosphorus Lead Palladium Paltinum Rubidium Rhenium Sulfur Antimony Scandium Selenium Tin Strontium Tantalum Tellurium Terbium Titanium Thallium Uranium Vanadium Tungsten Yttrium Zinc SYB. Ag Al As Au B Ba Be Bi Ca Cd Ce Co Cr Cs Cu Fe Ga Ge Hf Hg In K La Li Mg Mn Mo Na Nb Ni P Pb Pd Pt Rb Re S Sb Sc Se Sn Sr Ta Te Th Ti Tl U V W Y Zn Zr KTBR1998 0.18 1.30% 40.5 0.0181 20 66.1 0.65 0.148 1.88% 0.109 15.65 6.93 26.9 0.673 46.1 2.73% 4.07 0.046 0.404 0.087 0.055 0.19% 8.4 6.9 0.16% 56.3 2.04 0.203% 0.348 16.7 0.014% 9.85 0.003 0.002 12.45 0.001 1.78% 0.547 6.85 0.8 0.82 362 <0.005 0.02 5.32 0.018% 0.624 1.625 49.4 0.005 4.7 83.6 IB2013 0.363 2.62% 8.42 0.0107 20 177.5 2.21 0.208 0.32% 0.292 53.2 11.05 91.9 9.27 14.8 3.67% 21 0.181 0.819 <0.004 0.024 0.60% 25.3 102 1.78% 960 0.83 0.149% 0.168 39.2 0.0760% 266 N N 49.7 <0.001 0.01% 0.202 6.76 0.4 16.2 27.4 <0.005 0.04 9.1 0.179% 0.332 7.9 59.6 0.41 12 413 BM004PS <(0.50) N <(700) <(15) 20 200 <(1.0) <(10) 15% <(30) N <(5) 50 N 15 1% N N N N N N <(30) N 0.70% 300 <(5) N <(20) 15 N 10 N N N N N <(100) 7 N <(10) 300 N N <(200) 0.15% N N 30 <(50) 20 <(200) Yaxcopoil 1 N 12.50% N 0.00054 N 76 N N N N 104000 3.75 46 N N 5.73% N N N N N 2.17% N N 5.49% N 400 1.92% N 17 0.02% N 0.00054 0.00038 71 N 2.50% N N N N 278 N N N 0.53% N N 21 N 2.5 68 Note

Zirconium

16.3

30.9

70

122

Table No. 1 defines the mineralization profile of: the KT sample tan colored layer (KTBR1998) 9, the Island Butte rock shattercone sample taken from the edge area of the Beaverhead impact crater (IB2013) 10, a mineralization test conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey on Blacktail Creek sediments (BM004PS) 11, and the testing accomplished on the Yaxcopoil 1 deep core drill in the Chicxulub impact crater 1213. There are 53 elements shown in the table, not all samples had test results for the complete element suite. Samples that were not tested for an element the value was marked "N". Orange highlights under the Yaxcopoil 1 sample column mark elements that significantly differ from KT boundary tan layer value. It is noteworthy that almost half of the elements that were tested for under sample Yaxcopoil 1 vary significantly from the KT boundary material values. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted an economic study of the mineralization within the Blacktail Wilderness Area (BM004PS). They set minimum values for element concentrations that were significant; these values are shown as "(40)". When the test results show less element concentration, the value is shown as "< (40)". When the values are greater than the listed minimum, the actual value is shown. The location for sample BM004PS site is latitude 45 00" 44" N., longitude 112 35" 35" W. Sample IB2013, as shown in Table No. 1, came from Island Butte located at latitude

44 36' 45" N., longitude 112 58' 04" W. This sample was a gneiss rock mineralized shattercone that is an excellent representative sample of native bedrock from the Beaverhead impact crater. This sample shows a remarkable similarity to the element concentration values of the tan colored KT boundary layer. It is a reasonable expectation for the mineral concentration to be reduced in the proximal ejecta, from the hard rock mineral deposit. This reduction is caused by the wide area of dispersal of the mineral deposit when the impact occurs. The sample material from the tan colored layer of the KT boundary, and the Island Butte rock shattercone were sent to the geochemical laboratories of ALS Global in Reno, Nevada (See reference for certificate No's). The samples were pulverized, and split to 85% < 75 um sieve. The material was then digested by aqua regia, and tested for a suite of elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrumentation. A close review of the Table No. 1 values will show that the KT proximal ejecta could only have come from the Beaverhead impact crater. A massive bolide impacting earth will excavate an equally massive crater, and in the case of the Beaverhead asteroid, a complex crater. This impact event has been shown to be a wet impact in the shallow Cretaceous sea 14. The shock metamorphism from this kind of impact will be reflected through all of the existing rock formations in the impact
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area. In the case of the Beaverhead impact event some of these formations are very complex, and aged, while other formations are Cretaceous in age. Evidence discovered by Tim McElvain show shock metamorphism in Cretaceous formations within the crater 15. This limits the impact age to not more than the age of the formation that the shock metamorphism was found. A great deal of research has been done on dating the KT boundary. The tan layer of the KT boundary and the z-coal layer contain the anomalously high concentrations of platinum group elements, including iridium. Recent work by Paul R. Renne, et al, has established an age on these layers at 66.043 MYA 16. Even though they thought that they were dating ejecta from the Chicxulub impact event, they were actually dating material from the Beaverhead impact event. This date may be the best established date for the Beaverhead impact event that there is. Conclusion: This treatise has established some very salient features, and they are: 1) Stratigraphic implications of two separate events at the KT boundary. The white spherulitic layer appears to be distal ejecta, and could well be from the Chicxulub impact event. The tan colored layer is most certainly proximal ejecta, and is from the Beaverhead impact event. 2) The element gold is an excellent pathfinder. The concentration of gold found in the tan colored layer at the KT boundary is

3300% greater than the gold concentration found in the Chicxulub impact crater. 3) The mineralization profile established in Table No. 1 for the tan layer shows that this material came from a highly mineralized target rock. This is a close match to the mineralization of southwestern Montana, and is unlike anything found in the Chicxulub crater. 4) Shock metamorphism discovered in Cretaceous formations within the Beaverhead crater establishes that the Beaverhead asteroid impact event took place at, or near the end of the Cretaceous period. Good science is self correcting, and to that end this paper is presented.

Q.E.D.
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References:
Alvarez, L.W., W. Alvarez, F. Asaro and H.V. Michel. 1980. Extraterrestrial cause for the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary extinction. Science 208: 1095-1108. 2 Gerta Keller, T. Adatte, S. Gardin, A. Bartolini and S. Bajpai (30 April 2008). "Main Deccan volcanism phase ends near the KT boundary: Evidence from the Krishna-Godavari Basin, SE India" Earth and Planetary Science Letters 268 (3-4): 293-311. 3 Hargraves, R.B., Cullicott, C.E., Deffeyes, K.S., Hougen, S.B., Christiansen, P.P., and Fiske, P.S., 1990, Shatter cones and shocked rocks in southwestern Montana: The Beaverhead impact structure: Geology, v. 18, p. 832-834. 4 David E. Fastovsky, Kevin McSweeney, L. Darrell Norton; Pedogenic Development at the Cretaceous Tertiary Boundary, Garfield County, Montana. (1989). 5 French B.M. (1998) Traces of Catastrophe: A Handbook of Shock-Metamorphic Effects in Terrestrial Meteorite Impact Structures. LPIC Contribution No. 954, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston. 120 pp. p 102. 6 French B.M. (1998) Traces of Catastrophe: A Handbook of Shock-Metamorphic Effects in Terrestrial Meteorite Impact Structures. LPIC Contribution No. 954, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston. 120 pp. p 78. 7 Bohor, B. F., Lzett, G. A.; Worldwide Size Distribution of Shocked Quartz at the KT boundary: Evidence for a North American Impact Site. 8 Roald Tagle, Jorg Erzinger, Lutz Hecht, Ralf Thomas Schmitt, Dieter Stoffler, and Philippi Claeys: Platinum group elements in impactites of the ICDP Chicxulub drill core Yaxcopoil 1; Are there traces of the projectile? 9 KTBR1998 sample tested by ALS Global; 4977 Energy Way; Reno, NV 89502; Certificate RE13101838. 10 IB2013 sample tested by ALS Global; 4977 Energy Way; Reno, NV 89502; Certificate WN13110206. 11 BM004PS sample tested by U.S. Geological Survey; Mineral Resources of the Blacktail Mountains Wilderness Study Area, Beaverhead County, Montana; 1987. 12 Yaxcopoil 1 sample tests; Roald Tagle, Jorg Erzinger, Lutz Hecht, Ralf Thomas Schmitt, Dieter Stoffler, and Philippi Claeys: Platinum group elements in impactites of the ICDP Chicxulub drill core Yaxcopoil 1; Are there traces of the projectile? 13 A. Wittmann, T. Kenkmann, R.T. Schmitt, L. Hecht, and D. Stoffler; Impact Related Dike Breccia Lithologies in the ICDP drill core Yaxcopoil 1, Chicxulub Impact Structure, Mexico. ALSO, Ralf T. Schmitt, Axel Wittmann, and Dieter Stoffler; Geochemistry of Drill Core Samples from Yaxcopoil 1, Chicxulub Impact Crater, Mexico. 14 Tim McElvain; research access: http://www.scribd.com/doc/64688992/Beaverhead-Impact-Crater-K-TBoundary-Event. 15 Same as immediately above. 16 Paul R. Renne, Alan L. Deino, Frederik J. Hilgen, Klaudia F. Kuiper, Darren F. Mark, William S. Mitchell III, Leah E. Morgan, Roland Mundil, and Jan Smit; Time Scales of Critical Events Around the Cretaceous Paleogene Boundary. Feb. 2013.
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