Expert: Ralph Salier - 2/11/2011

Question
I live in South East Alabama. If I were to dig a small hole, would I be able to see signs of the K-T boundary? Can you describe or show a picture of the K-T boundary so I will know I have found it in the small hole I have dug? About how far will I have to dig down?

Answer
Hi Dennis,

If you go on line to www.google.com and put in "K-T Boundary" there are a multitude of articles on the subject.  The K-T Boundary is an event horizon prior to which there were dinosaurs and after which there were none.  For the most part, Geologists and other scientists agree that the event was the catastrophic or cataclysmic striking of the Earth by an asteroid.  This probably was the Chixulub event in the Yucatan peninsula which geologically matches the time frame.  There is evidence of the event around the world and it takes the form of a very narrow band of a grayish clay type material between layers of rock dating to about 65million years ago.  Again, if you look on line for the K-T Boundary you will see photos of the layer of material.  

I'm not sure that by simply digging in the ground that you will find it. Geologically speaking you may have to find a rock outcropping where this is exposed and there are some places in your area where it is exposed.

"[PDF] SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC SETTING OF THE CRETACEOUS-TERTIARY BOUNDARY ...File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
by AD DONOVAN - 1988 - Cited by 52 - Related articles
The roadside exposure containing the K-T boundary ana- lyzed in this report (Fig . 4) is located 6.4 km (4 mi) south- east of the town of Braggs on Alabama ...
sp.sepmonline.org/content/sepspecpub/sepspsel/1/SEC18.body.pdf"

The above article and web page describes a location near Braggs where it is exposed in a road cut. Perhaps you could go there and see it.

I hope this helps.