Preparing for the Chicxulub Scientific Drilling Project

University Of Alaska Fairbanks Campus, Fairbanks AK

Investigators

Abstract

9909839 Sharpton The buried Chicxulub impact crater on the Yucatan Penninsula in Mexico is scientifically important because of its great size (>200 km), its excellent preservation state, and its link to the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinctions. The International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) has agreed to provide funds to drill and continuously core a 2.5 - 3 km hole in the crater, assist in initial core documentation operations, and conduct a basic logging program. There are three Principal Investigators for the Chicxulub Scientific Drilling Project (CSDP) - two Mexican scientists and the author of this proposal, Virgil Sharpton. This award provides funding for the development of a science program with U.S. participation. Specifically, funds will be used to: 1) assemble members of the Science Team through a call for short proposals in Eos and GSA Today; 2) meet with other PIs, Co-PIs, and representatives from other relevant institutions and agencies to plan and implement a science plan; and 3) prepare the proposers' effort in CSDP by continuing analysis of existing samples from the Mexican-led campaign of shallow coring along the southern flank of the Chicxulub basin. ***