Archive · 21 Jul 2026
Rare Meteorite Type Killed Dinosaurs
Scientists have discovered that the meteorite that killed the dinosaurs was a very rare type called carbonaceous chondrites of the Ornans class.
This type of meteorite is not commonly found on Earth, which shows how unlucky the dinosaurs were.
The study used advanced nickel isotope analysis to find out the meteorite's composition.
The meteorite hit the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico at a speed of 64,000 km/hr, causing a mass cooling that killed all life slowly.
The study does not change how we understand the dinosaur extinction but clarifies that sulphur did not play a major role in the event.
The meteorite that killed the dinosaurs was a rare type called carbonaceous chondrites of the Ornans class.
The meteorite impacted the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico at a speed of 64,000 km/hr.
The impact caused a mass cooling that killed all life slowly.
The study clarifies that sulphur did not play a major role in the mass extinction event.
The study was published in Science Advances on July 20.
- Who
- Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Paris, Brussels, and Vienna
- What
- A study on the meteorite that killed the dinosaurs
- When
- Published on July 20
- Where
- The meteorite impacted the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico
- Why
- To understand the composition and rarity of the meteorite that caused the dinosaur extinction
Significance of Meteorite Type
Impact of Sulphur Content
Rarity of Meteorite
Significance of Meteorite Type
The meteorite was an extremely rare type, carbonaceous chondrites of the Ornans class, indicating it traveled a great distance.
Impact of Sulphur Content
The rarity of the meteorite type does not change the understanding of the dinosaur extinction event.
Role of Sulphur
Significance of Meteorite Type
The study clarifies that sulphur did not play a major role in the mass extinction event.
Impact of Sulphur Content
The impact of the meteorite, rather than its sulphur content, was the primary cause of the mass extinction.
- Meteorite Type
- Carbonaceous chondrites of the Ornans class (CO chondrites)
- Percentage of Similar Meteorites on Earth
- Less than 5%
- Impact Location
- Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
- Impact Speed
- 64,000 km/hr
- Percentage of Dinosaurs Extinct
- 75%
- Study Publication Date
- July 20
- Study Publication Journal
- Science Advances