Geochemical evaluation of the Younger Dryas Boundary (YDB) impact hypothesis, El Carrizal Baja California Sur, Mexico

The Younger Dryas Boundary (YDB) extraterrestrial impact hypothesis is purported to have triggered the Younger Dryas stadial and coincides with the Pleistocene extinction and disappearance of the Clovis Paleo-Indian culture. Evidence supporting or refuting this hypothesis has great implications for the fields of geology, paleontology, and archaeology. Our field site for testing the YDB ET impact hypothesis is located on the El Carrizal fault, 38 km south of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Sediment samples were collected from a 3 m stratigraphic section at El Carrizal, which spanned the sediments where a mammoth fossil was located. To date we report the results of this investigation and analysis of sediments are inconclusive. We have not found any defendable evidence at the El Carrizal study site to support or oppose the hypothesis for the Younger Dryas extraterrestrial impact.