Osmium

Osmium consists of two isotopes Os¹⁸⁷ and Os¹⁸⁶. Meteorites have a high concentration of Os ¹⁸⁷. The K/T clay of Gubbio was found to contain mostly Os¹⁸⁷.

Spherules

Spherules which are the basaltic equivalent of tektites (balls of solidified molten rock) were found in the K/T clay.

Shocked quartz grains

Micron sized quartz grains containing shock lamellae (small fractures) were found in the K/T clays. The only way to produce these shock lamellae is by high pressure shock waves passing through rock. Shocked quartz grains have been found at nuclear weapons test sites and asteroid impact sites such as Meteor Crater in Arizona.

Soot

Soot (small carbonaceous particles) was found in the K/T clays. Soot is formed during forest fires. It can be hypothesized that this soot was formed during the wild fires that spread on land after the asteroid impact.

Clay composition

More clay of the K/T boundary was analyzed and found to contain 12 parts of altered basaltic material to one part of meteoritic material (Carlisle).

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