Local environments of Ti in K-Pg boundary clays probed by XAFS: possible marker of large meteorite impact

Abstract

The coordination environments of Ti in K-Pg boundary clays were studied by K-edge XAFS. The XANES spectra and Ti-O distance of K-Pg clays are similar to those of suevite. The formation information at meteorite impact is preserved in the coordination environments of Ti in K-Pg clays. The similarity between Ti coordination environment in K-Pg clays and that in impact glasses suggests that Ti coordination environment investigation may be exploited as a marker of large meteorite impact.