The Limousin Asteroid impact of the Triassic Rhaetian age
Just over 201 million years ago the Earth was hit by an asteroid. It struck the area we now call the Limousin region of France, close to the small town of Rochechouart. The timing of the asteroid strike coincided with a species mass extinction, where globally ~70% of species were eradicated.
In this short book we take a multi-disciplinary view of the asteroid impact. We look at what France was like at the time of the impact from a geological and topological perspective; what plants and animals were in the area; and the climate of the time. We look at the type of asteroid which hit, its probable size and composition. The effects the strike would have had on the area are assessed, and we describe how the impact could have been associated with the Jurassic - Triassic mass extinction.
The book includes a practical guide to sites of interest where the evidence for the impact can be seen today. The area is a wonderful place to both live and visit and our aim is to encourage visitors and residents to explore the evidence for one of the most devastating events the planet has seen.
This is an introduction level text, no previous subject knowledge is assumed or required, and the book is suitable for all readers (aged 12 and above recommended).
Contents overview
Detailed contents page, list of tables and figures, can be viewed by clicking here
An extract of some of the pages within this book can be viewed by clicking here
This book was reviewed in The Observatory (138,1263,2018); the review can be read here
A5 paperback version (perfect binding) pp 74; 22 colour figures; 4 tables.
ISBN : 978 - 1- 999- 904- 41-8 Price: £6.99 from Amazon UK at this link.
Just over 201 million years ago the Earth was hit by an asteroid. It struck the area we now call the Limousin region of France, close to the small town of Rochechouart. The timing of the asteroid strike coincided with a species mass extinction, where globally ~70% of species were eradicated.
In this short book we take a multi-disciplinary view of the asteroid impact. We look at what France was like at the time of the impact from a geological and topological perspective; what plants and animals were in the area; and the climate of the time. We look at the type of asteroid which hit, its probable size and composition. The effects the strike would have had on the area are assessed, and we describe how the impact could have been associated with the Jurassic - Triassic mass extinction.
The book includes a practical guide to sites of interest where the evidence for the impact can be seen today. The area is a wonderful place to both live and visit and our aim is to encourage visitors and residents to explore the evidence for one of the most devastating events the planet has seen.
This is an introduction level text, no previous subject knowledge is assumed or required, and the book is suitable for all readers (aged 12 and above recommended).
Contents overview
- Introduction
- France in the Rhaetian age of the Triassic
- Species mass extinction
- Asteroids in the Solar system
- The Rochechouart impact
- An asteroid impact investigator's bucket list in the Rochechouart environs
- Appendices
Detailed contents page, list of tables and figures, can be viewed by clicking here
An extract of some of the pages within this book can be viewed by clicking here
This book was reviewed in The Observatory (138,1263,2018); the review can be read here
A5 paperback version (perfect binding) pp 74; 22 colour figures; 4 tables.
ISBN : 978 - 1- 999- 904- 41-8 Price: £6.99 from Amazon UK at this link.