Earth's Planetary Evolution and the Extinction of the Dinosaurs

Abstract:

There is evidence of a separate distribution of non-metal elements and compounds in Earth’s geologic record. This interpretation is based upon the recognition of patterns in the isotopes of the non-metals carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur throughout geologic time. An electric/magnetic based fractionation process is believed to be responsible for this, early in the history of the solar system. A theory of planetary evolution is developed to explain this non-metal geologic overprint. Once the era of moon formation ended about 3800 Ma ago, the Earth is envisioned with 30 to 42 moons. One moon accreted for each world-wide geologic unconformity or period during the Phanerozoic (today back to 541 Ma). An analysis of the regular (non-captured) moons of the Solar system together with a geologically reasonable solution to the problem of the history of the Lunar orbit enables an estimate of how many moons Earth may have had. A simple gravitational stratification of non-metal elements and compounds overprinted onto the distribution of moons can explain all major mass extinctions. For the non-avian dinosaurs (hereafter referred to simply as dinosaurs), the Paleogene Moon accretion input large amounts of carbon monoxide and nitrogen gas into the Earth’s atmosphere. A significant drop in the oxygen content occurred. Cretaceous dinosaurs became infertile in the lower oxygen content of the Paleogene atmosphere. An accretion process is examined for the last moon and numerous geologic processes are explained. Earth evolved from a planet dominated by supercontinents and regular moon accretions into one dominated by plate tectonics.