Crater formed from Earth’s extinction event produced by carbon-rich ‘C-type’ asteroid, scientists suggest

Experts studying material from event 66m years ago find signs to show how Chicxulub impact crater was formed

When a massive space rock slammed into Earth 66m years ago, it wiped out huge swathes of life and ended the reign of the dinosaurs. Now scientists say they have new insights into what it was made from.

Experts studying material laid down at the time of the event say they have found tell-tale signs to support the idea the Chicxulub impact crater was produced by a carbon-rich, C-type", asteroid that originally formed beyond the orbit of Jupiter.