Part 7/15:
Evidence from Impact Proxies and Geological Signatures
The presentation stresses the abundance of impact proxies—such as elevated levels of iridium, nano-diamonds, shocked quartz, and melt glass—found in sediments worldwide dating precisely to the Younger Dryas onset (~12,800 years ago). Notably:
Black Mat Layers: Found across North America, these black, organic-rich beds contain high-impact proxies and are often found draped over megafauna remains, such as a mammoth named Eloise at Murray Springs.
Global Distribution: Impact proxies are detected from North America to Antarctica, suggesting a widespread atmospheric or airburst event rather than a single, large crater impact.