Evidence in the fossil record points to major asteroid impacts that have caused mass extinctions in which 50%–96% of life on earth died out.

Evidence in the fossil record points to five (5) major asteroid impacts that have caused mass extinctions in which 50%–96% of life on Earth died out.

A mass extinction can be defined as a sudden decrease in the biodiversity of life on Earth.The major mass extinction phenomena were caused by catastrophic events such as volcanic eruptions and asteroid impacts.

The five biggest impact craters caused by asteroid collisions include:

Vredefort CraterChicxulub CraterSudbury BasinPopigai CraterManicouagan Reservoir (this last is an ancient eroded asteroid impact crater)

The 5 mass extinction events include:

The Ordovician-Silurian extinction, which occurred approximately 444 million years (Ma) ago. It has been proposed that this event caused the extinction of around 85% of all life on Earth.The late Devonian extinction occurred 383 to 359 million years ago. It has been proposed that this event caused the extinction of approximately 50% of all genera and 19% of all families on Earth.The Permian-Triassic mass extinction occurred 252 million years ago. It has been proposed that this event caused the extinction of 57% of all biological families and 83% of all genera on Earth.The Triassic-Jurassic extinction occurred 210 million years ago. It has been proposed that this event caused the extinction of 23–34% of marine genera on Earth.The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction is the most recent mass extinction and occurred 65 million years ago. It has been proposed that this event caused the extinction of 75% of all species on Earth.

In conclusion, evidence in the fossil record points to five (5) major asteroid impacts that have caused mass extinctions in which 50%–96% of life on Earth died out.

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