Groundbreaking Find in the Sandhills

North Carolina's Sandhills have just revealed an astonishing chapter of their geological history. Geologists have uncovered a remarkable layer of earth in Moore County that records a powerful extraterrestrial impact and the monumental tsunami that followed.

What the Team Discovered

A team led by consulting geologist G. Robert Ganis from Southern Pines has identified a one-yard-thick sequence at Paint Hill, consisting of four distinct layers. This sequence, named the Mount Helicon Formation, is linked to a catastrophic late Eocene bolide impact—a high-speed meteor or comet striking Earth.

The layers include:

Breaking Down the Layers

1. **Bed 1**: 17 inches of dark, sandy clay bursting with carbon-rich glass and rock fragments, containing iridium levels between 14 and 18 parts per billion, significantly higher than normal.

2. **Bed 2**: About 3.5 inches of silt featuring agglutinated pellets and iridium levels of 2 to 6 parts per billion.

3. **Bed 3**: A 2.4-inch layer of breccia, comprising a chaotic mix of soil and seafloor remnants, with iridium levels of 1 to 2 parts per billion.

4. **Bed 4**: 6 inches of coarse sand likely deposited by a subsequent tsunami surge.

The Bigger Picture

Located approximately 235 miles southwest of the hidden Chesapeake Bay impact structure, believed to be the source of this debris, this geological site paints a vivid picture of how such an extensive impact could project ejecta across the region, causing massive floods to rush inland.

Iridium: An Impact Indicator

Iridium, rare on Earth but prevalent in meteorites, serves as a crucial indicator of extraterrestrial impact fallout. In 2021, research linked iridium spikes from the Chicxulub impact—around 66 million years ago—to mass extinction events, showcasing how these elements shape our understanding of Earth’s history.

Discovering Impact Insights

Bed 3 is rich with marine and terrestrial clasts, including fossilized chert and petrified wood, telling the dramatic story of a powerful flow surging from the ocean into the land. The structure and makeup of Bed 2 suggest a unique formation process, possibly from explosion-induced aerosol clumping.

Decoding the Paint Hill Impact

Each layer at Paint Hill conveys critical information about the sequence of events during the impact. The initial Bed 1 captures the immediate fallout of ejecta, while Bed 2 indicates continuing fallout and Bed 3 documents the inland tsunami surge. Finally, Bed 4 likely represents a reoccupation of the channel, laying down clean sand.

Geological Ramifications

The findings from the Paint Hill impact sequence extend the implications of the Chesapeake Bay event deep into the Carolinas. Naming the Mount Helicon Formation establishes a new geological reference point, enhancing our understanding of Eocene geological history and coastal evolution.

Why This Matters

The Mount Helicon Formation not only enriches our geological maps but also contributes to clarifying historical sea-level changes and sets the stage for future explorations at similar elevations. The evidence gathered—iridium anomalies, unique fallout textures, and tsunami-style breccia—intertwines to provide a clear narrative of when an object from outer space transformed the Atlantic coast forever.