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Projects: NEO Earth Expeditions

2001 Belize Expedition Objectives

Building on Past Successes

The Planetary Society has organized three previous expeditions to study and collect samples of ejecta blanket material from the Chicxulub impact crater. These expeditions brought back a wealth of data that is helping us to understand large impact processes and their possible implications in the evolution of life on our planets. Several publications have come out (i.e. LPSC abstracts, GSA abstract, GSA Special Paper, Earth and Planetary Science Letters) and are in the process of publication. Discoveries from the expeditions include; the identification of a new species of fossil crab (TPS members named it carcineredis planetarius) the identification of shock Quartz (in northern Belize), giant ejecta boulders 8 meters across, possible condensate material from the impact's resulting vapor plume and features that have never been seen before (i.e. Pook's pebbles). Our last expedition discovered a significant outcrop of ejecta material in Mexico, the closest of all known samples to the point of impact. All of these discoveries have helped to confirm that the K/T extinction was brought about by the Chicxulub impact crater.

Objectives for the 2001 Expedition

The first three expeditions just scratched the surface and led to more questions than answers. A fourth expedition to continue the search is planned for January 2001. The scientific objectives of this expedition are:
1. To determine the extent of the ejecta material in Quintana Roo, Mexico and Northern and Central Belize.
2. To identify and map the distribution of ballistically deformed material (i.e. Pook's pebbles).
3. Determine the stratigraphic relationships between ejecta deposits in Quintana Roo, Mexico and Northern and Central Belize.
4. To collect samples for detailed laboratory analysis.
5. To perform a survey with a magnetometer to determine the extent of ejecta blanket and look for hydrothermal deposits.
6. To measure the size of cobbles and pebbles in ejecta to determine the effect of atmospheric sorting during ballistic transport.
7. To look for fossils to determine the age of rocks under, over, and in the ejecta blanket.

Itinerary

We will start the expedition in a stone quarry at Albion Island in Northern Belize. Here we'll look for fragments of the material left by the Chicxulub impact. Next we will journey into Mexico where, on our last expedition, we discovered a significant outcrop of ejecta material - the closest of all known samples to the point of impact. We will explore the area for more of these outcrops. Then we will travel to Pook's Hill, a lovely resort in the jungles of central Belize where we will explore some new sites for Pook's Pebbles --, pink colored rocks named for their discovery site and totally different from the ejecta material in Northern Belize. You can expect primitive field conditions. Accommodations will vary from nice to basic. There will also be opportunities to visit at least one archaeological site and to see unique wildlife. No special training is necessary (we will provide that). Just bring lots of enthusiasm.