Open Journal of Geology, 2012, 2, 241-252
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2012.24024 Published Online October 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ojg)
Did Major Impacts Affect
Sedimentologic/Sequence-Analytical Pattern of the Early
Palaeozoic Sedimentary Systems of Jordan, Arabian Plate?
Werner Schneider1, Elias Salameh2
1Im Ziegenförth 15, D-38108 Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
2University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Received July 31, 2012; revised August 29, 2012; accepted September 28, 2012
ABSTRACT
Based on profound sequence-analytical data of the early Palaeozoic sedimentary systems of Jordan, Arabian Plate, a
correlation attempt is proposed with regard to possible major impact events after Price. His methodological concept tells
that abrupt changes of both direction and speed of plate motion would indicate such convulsion processes as occurred
on: 550 Ma, 526.5 Ma, 514 Ma, 456/455 Ma and 441 Ma. Referring to the fa ct tha t majo r imp acts ma y tr igge r, re spec-
tively influence, exogenic and endogenic processes on an over-region al, even global, extent, this paper put the “sen-
sitive” geological setting of Jordan at the Arabian Platform’s margin into focus. That mainly concerns the early Pa-
laeozoic coastlines as to sea level change as well as the Jordan Valley Rift as being possibly to susceptible for tec-
tonic re-activation ch anges of both direction and speed of plate motions would indicate such convulsive processes as
occurred on: 550 Ma, 526.5 Ma, 514 Ma, 502 Ma, 456/455.4 Ma, and following triggering of magmatism at the Pre-
cambrian/Cambrian boundary. The following phenomena are taken into account: Faulting and magmatism triggered
along the Jordan Valley Rift (Wadi Araba) in connection with the Pan-African Orogeny, anoxic sediments, temporary
high detrital input onto the adjoining stable platform from Gondwana hinterlands, and significant chemical weathering
in the Gondwana source areas by intensive acid (nitric) rain directing mineral content variation in the “Nubian Sand-
stones (e.g. feldspar, kaolinite/dickite, tourmaline)”.
Keywords: Sequence-Analysis; Impacts; Plate Tectonics; Anoxic Sediments; Jordan
1. Introduction
The following citations are thought to be an introduction
to opinions exp ressed by outstanding scientists’ concern-
ing the new science of cratering geology. They may
serve as references to the subject of meteoritic impacts
and their further geologic implications. Surprisingly, there
is evidence for a remarkably high coincidence of the ra-
diometric ages of both sequence-analytical data (e.g. MFS,
SB) and Price’s events.
Critically regarding the role of analytical error of ra-
diometric ages, this paper reveals an approach to geosci-
entific “boundary dispu te”.
“Acceptance of the “Rare Event” as a viable geologi-
cal agent does not reintroduce the preternatural into Geo-
logy. It does, however, remove certain, and possibly im-
portant happenings from the realm of rigid scientific
analysis,” A shocking realization to any modern scientist
[1].
“The recognition of the sedimentologic consequences
of “Convulsive Events” poses a special challenge to
Sedimentary Geologists. Meeting this challenge will al-
most certainly demonstrate that “Convulsive Geologic
Events have greater relevance to the sedimentary record
than has been previousl y recog nized”.
Why is there no physical evidence for such impacts
other than the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary clay? Part of
the problem undoubtedly lies with preservation.
“But the effects of major impacts are likely to be of
such broadly regional, even global, extent that one would
intuitively expect at least fragmentary preservation of its
consequences [2]”.
“Especially the search for impact debris in the Phanero-
zoic sedimentary rock record has vast potential to pin-
point some of those large impact events [3]”.
Based on profound sequen ce-an alytical da ta, this p ap er
directly deals with the open questions asked in the quota-
tions cited above.
Since Sharland [4] submitted a synthesis of the se-
quene sctratigraphy of the Arabian Plate, followed by
Haq & Al-Qahtani [5] who published two cycle charts of
the regional sea-level fluctuations on the Arabian Plat-
form, it was a challenge to incorporate sequence-analytical
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W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH
242
data of the early Paleozoic systems of Jordan what satis-
fyingly shows remarkable coincidences to these charts
[6 ].That was not self-evident, since Haq & Al-Qahtani [5]
could benefit from a huge stratigraphic and radiometric
data pool of the Near East and Middle East Oil and Gas
Industries while we in Jordan, worked with surface out-
crops by using macrofossils (trilobites, brachiopods, grap-
tolites) and trace fossils (Cruziana) as time and envi-
ronmental markers.
The Arabian Infracambrian extensional system, 600 -
540 Ma [7] shows the geological setting of Jordan as the
north-westernmost part of the Arabian Plate, close to the
adjacent Jordan Valley Rift and an assumed triple junc-
tion (Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 1. Study area of the early Palaeozoic.
Figure 2. Arabian Infracambrian extensional sedimentary
systems of Jordan and location extensional system, 600 -
540 Ma of well SH-3, Wadi Sirhan.
The data of Haq & Al-Qahtani [5] are based on epi-
and peri-platform sequence-stratigraphic studies. They
show sedimentary on-lap pattern on the margins of the
Arabian Plate, largely at second-order cycle level, and
are compared to eustatic data.
The Early Palaeozoic coastlines of Jordan appear as
useful for such correlation, since even ingressions of
small extent are generally well documented by Cruziana-
bearing mudstones interbedding the gigantic input of
“Nubian Sandstone” (Figure 3, Table 2, [6] ), whose
source areas were located south-eastward in the Gond-
wana hinterlands.
During the Cambrian through the Early Silurian peri-
ods, eustasy may have been the most significant control-
ling factor for sedimentary pattern when long-term trends
in both regional and global sea-level curves show high
similarities.
The radiometric ages of the “Maximum Flooding Sur-
face” MFS: [8] and the “Sequence Boundaries” = “Ero-
sive Unconformities”; SB: [9] had been re-calibrated to
the new (GTS 2004) time scale [5] Applying these data,
there may be recognized a remarkable coincidence of sea-
level fluctuations along Jordan’s paleo-coastlines and
those of the Arabian Plate at all (Figure 4).
FORTRAN 77-programs for plotting coastlines and
bathymetric data. It contains Throughout the last 40 years
it has increasingly become evident that major impacts
may have, in addition to mega-volcanic eruptions, an
important influence on sedimentologic pattern, like the
formation of oxygen-deficient shales and high energy
sediments, extremely high sedimentation rates by gigan-
tic clastic input etc. (e.g. [2]) Thus, “sensitive” coastlin es
as having been existed in Jordan are preferably suscepti-
ble to transgression/regression interplays possibly trig-
gered by convulsive events.
The highly differential chronostratigraphic and se-
quence-analytical data of the Arabian Plate challenge a
correlation attempt using comparingly precise data of
major impacts that occurred throughout the Early Paleo-
zoic period. Price [10] recovered such major impact
events by using two plate tectonic parameters: (a) an
abrupt change in direction and (b) an abrupt change of
speed of plate motions as well. He used the ATLAS-
System (version 3.3) developed by A. Smith and co-
workers at Cambridge University, England, as mapping
and global reconstruction system for the P. C., in order to
design maps and tracks of the movement of continental
bodies or individual islands through various periods in
the Phanerozoic.
Thus, the ATLAS-System represents a map-making
package comprising two EULER rotations and a variety
of utilities for creating paleogeographic reconstructions
for the last 600 Ma; it provides estimates of the past po-
sition of present-day shaped coastlines [10].

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH
243
Figure 3. Sequence analytical model of the early Paleozoic sedimentary systems of Jordan.
Figure 4. Compilation of chronostratigraphic and sequence-analytical data, possible major impact events, and relating geo-
logical pattern throughout the Early Palaeozoic Period of Jordan, Arabian Plate.

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH
244
Table 1 lists up the major impacts after Price for the
period 600 - 310.5 Ma, with regard to Fennoscandia (F)
and the Pacific realm (P). The impact event ages of both
areas are the same or close together. From Figure 4 a
high grade of coincidence with stratigraphic boundaries
becomes obvious. Figures 5 (a) and (b) show the plate
tectonic motion tracks of both areas for the according
time interval.
In the following, sequence-analytical data of Jordan
respectively the Arabian Plate at all, will be checked on
coincidence with the radiometric ages of the major im-
pact events that could have occurred during the Early
Palaeozoic period, according to Price’s concept.
2. Results
2.1. Sequence-Stratigraphic Ages and Major
Impact Event Ages: Coincidences
Figure 4 compiles on its left side the chronostratigraphic
and sequence-analytical data of the Arabian Plate, and
the radiometric ages of possible major impact events
relevant and related to the plate tecto nic motion tracks of
Fennoscandia (F) and of the Pacific realm (P). In the middle
Table 1. Major impact events throughout the period 550 -
310.5 Ma relating to Fennoscandia (A) and the Pacific
realm (B) (Hawaii), Price (2001).
A Fennoscandia
550
514
502
456
441
420
387
365
310.5
Base of Cambrian
Maentwrogian/Dolgellian
Cambrian/Ordovician
Llandeilo/Caradoc
Ordovician/Silurian
Wenlock/Ludlow/
D2/D1 Devonian
Frasnian/Famennian
Bashkirian/Moscovian
545*
514
505
458
438
421
387
367
310
B Pacific
550
526.5
502
455.4
441
400
387
365
310.5
Base of Cambrian
St David/Merioneth
Cambrian/Ordovician
Llandeilo/Caradoc
Ordovician/Silurian
Silurian/Devonian
D2/D1 Devonian
Frasnian/Famennian
Mississip./Pennsylvanian
545*
523
505
458
438
408
387
367
320
*Base of Cambrian “m oved” from 600 Ma to 545 Ma .
column the lithostratigraphy, sequence-analytical data of
the early Palaeozoic systems of Jordan, and pos- sible
impact-related geological phenomena encountered in
surface outcrops of southern Jordan, are listed up as:
magmatism, unconformities (SB), anoxic sediments, ex-
tremely high detrital input, and significant mineralogical
changes relating to total loss of feldspar and high
amounts of kaolinite/dickite (compare [5]). Finally, the
High Systems Tracts (HST), and major tectonic and cli-
matic events on and arou nd the Arabian Plate are added.
According to Table 2, the relevant possible impact
event effects upon the sedimentary systems will be com-
mented as follows (see Figure 4).
2.1.1. Event: 550 Ma (F, P)
A regional Intra-Proterozoic unconformity appears within
the crystalline Pan-African Basement at 600 Ma [11].
Along Wadi Araba, the Aheimir and Feinan Volcanics
overlying elder magmatites and clastics (Figure 6), re-
veal ages ranging from 550 - 540 Ma [12] close to the
possible impact event and approximately coinciding with
the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary (542 Ma).
On the Arabian Plate, younger carbonate rocks (oil-
prone source rocks) house a MFS (Cm 10) yielding an
age of 538 Ma. Sequence-analytical data prior to 550 Ma
are not available from the chart of Haq & Al-Qahtani [5].
2.1.2. Event: 526 Ma (F)
This event falls into the Lower Cambrian period when
the Main Unconformity (SB) in Southern Jordan deve-
loped (540 - 514 Ma). According to the existing paleo-
relief, that unconformity, from West to East, climbs up
from the base of the Salib F. at Wadi Abu Barqa (Figure
6) to the Middle/Upper Cambrian sandstones of the
Table 2. Possible major impact event ages and sequence-
analytical data (MFS, SB) for the Early Paleozoic sedimen-
tary Systems of Jordan, Arabian Plate.
Impact event age
(Ma) [5] Sequence-analytical data of Jordan [6]
Sequence-analytical
data of the Arabian
Plate [5]
441 (P, F) MFS, oil shale following
glaciation (446 Ma) MFS, oil shale
455.4/456 (P , F)2 MFSs in transition zo n e o f Dubaydib F./Tubeiliyat M.
boundary MFS, oil shale
502 (P, F) SB, onset of high detrital
input SB
514 (F) SB, MFS, onset of anoxic sediments, L./M.
Cambrian
SB: Pre-Sic Angudan
Unconformity
526.5 (P) SB, clastic onset SB
550 (P, F) SB, main unconformity,
Wadi Araba volcanism SB?, MFS?

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH 245
Umm Ishrin F. at Wadi Rum (Figure 7). The clastic sedi-
mentation of the Salib F. set on with basal conglomerates,
and continues with arkosic sandstones of low maturity
upon the Pan-African Basement. For Wadi Araba, Jarrar
[11,12] ascertained an age period of the Main Uncon-
formity on 540 - 530 Ma.
On the Arabian Plate, the possible impact event hap-
pened in between two SBs.
Figure 5. (A) Track of Fennoscandia from 600 - 250 Ma; (B) Track of Hawaii/Pacific realm from 600 - 245 Ma.

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH
246
Figure 6. Precambrian magmatites overlain by immature
arkosic molasse-sandstones of the Lower Cambrian Salib F.,
upper Wadi Abu Barqa, Wadi Araba.
Figure 7. Pr ecambrian basement (Pan-African magmatites:
625 - 600 Ma) overlain by Middle/Upper Cambrian red
sandstones (Umm Ishrin F.) and white sandstones of the
Late Cambrian/Lower Ordovician Disi F., Wadi Ram.
2.1.3. Event: 514 Ma (F)
In south-west Jordan there seems to be a remarkable co-
incidence of the transgressive base of the Burj F. (show-
ing two MFS), overlying an uppermost Lower Cambrian
paleosol, with the important Pre-Siq/Angudan Uncon-
formity on the Arabian Plate, both fitting to 514 Ma. This
is the onset of subsidence following peneplation on the
Arabian Plate. The Burj F. is built up of two shale units
interbedded with intertidal dolomites (Figure 8). East-
ward, the shales and carbonates interfinger with shallow
marine Abu Kusheiba-Sandstones [13].
On the Arabian Plate, an unconformity approximately
marks the base of the Middle Cambrian (513 Ma) that
falls onto the top of the lower shale unit of the Burj F.
The top of the Burj F. overlain with sandstones of the
Umm Ishrin F. may coincide with a MFS (Cm 20: 506
Ma) on the Arabian Plate. For this period, major anoxic
sedimentation on ocean floor around the Arabian Plate is
assigned.
2.1.4. Event: 502 Ma (P, F)
In Jordan, there may be an intraformational “correlative
conformity” (SB II: [9]) placed in the middle of the Late
Cambrian, where the red sandstones of the Umm Ishrin F.
are overlain by white sandstones of the Disi F. setting on
abruptly with high detrital input (Figures 9 and 10).
On the Arabian Plate, that lithostratigraphic level lies
Figure 8. Cambrian section in the Nummeira area, south-
eastern end of the Dead Sea, consisting of sandflat facies (S),
intertidal and lagoonal pelites (P), massive and slightly
bedded shallow mecritic carbonates (D), mixed tidal flats
bearing Rusophycus, lagoonal deposits (P), sandflats (S),
and uppermost 3D megaripple facies (3D). Event: 502 Ma
(P, F).
Figure 9. Dominating foresetting 3D megaripple sandstones
of the Disi F. revealing overturned cross-bedding by high
detrital input and high transport velocity , near type locality
Disi village. Scale: B. S. Amireh.
Figure 10. Jebel Amud west of Disi village: dark red sand-
stones of the Umm Ishrin F. overlain by white sandstones of
the Disi F., upper part shows a MFS (red pelites bearing
Cruziana furcifera of Lower Ordovician age). Uppermost cap
of Jebel Amud consists of sandstone of the Umm Sahm F.

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH 247
close to an unconformity that coincides with the Middle/
Late Cambrian boundary (501 Ma) and an overlying MFS
(496 Ma). Around that time-span, Paleozoic Gondwana
finally assembled [5] .
From the base of the Umm Ishrin F. up to the top of the
Umm Sahm F., total disappearance of feldspar and a sig-
nificant increase of kaolinite/dickite were recorded (Fig-
ure 11, [14]). That indicates extreme acid weathering con-
ditions over a long period in the south-easterly located
source areas on the Arabian Shield . Even the stable h eavy
mineral tourmaline shows extraordinary dissolution pat-
tern (Figures 12 (a) and (b)).
2.1.5. E vents: 455 Ma (P), 456 Ma (F).
The Dubaydib F./Tubeiliyat M. boundary of Jordan may
approximately coincide with Price’s data while on the
Arabian Plate a MFS (040:454 Ma) immediately follows
both events by oil-prone source rocks.
Furthermore, there appears a subordinate MFS in the
upper part of the Dubaydib F. (Figure 13) and another
one in the lower part of the Tubeiliyat M. (Figure 14)
both representing green shales [15].
Figure 11. Mineral content variation throughout the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sequences of Jordan.

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH
248
Figure 12. Tourmaline grains (diameter 0.2 mm) showing
unusual dissolution pattern (A) and etching figures (B),
from a heavy mineral assemblage of the Disi F.
Figure 13. Subtidal channel filling sandstone unterlain and
overlain by sandy shales at the Dubaydib F./Tubeiliyat M.
boundery, south-e astern desert.
Figure 14. Typical landscape of the Tubeiliyat M. forming
flat-topped mesas (sandy shales) and slightly inclined cues-
tas (Schichtstufen) built up by hummocky cross-stratified
competed sandstones.
2.1.6. Event: 441 Ma (F, P)
In south-east Jordan, the Upper Ordovician exposes gla-
cio-fluvial deposits (Ammar M./Mudawwara F.: Figure
15). This is according to the record on the Arabian Plate
(AP 2/AP 3). Glaciation itself started on 446 Ma. At the
Ordovician/Silurian boundary (443.7 Ma) brachiopod-
bearing transgressive shallow marine sandstones are over-
lain by black shales (Batra M.). According to Arm-
strong [16] in southern Jordan the Batra Shale set on in
the uppermost Ordovician and is younging from south-
west towards north-east. They interpret the top of the
Batra Shale as MFS.
The Batra Shale can be correlated with the oil-prone
shales of the Arabian Plate (MFS S 10: 440 Ma) that may
coincide with Price’s impact event.
Summarizing the data of this chapter (Table 2), there
seems a remarkable coincidence of the age of sequence-
analytical data (MFS, SB) with the data of possible major
impact events submitted by Price [10].
3. Discussion
“If we cannot improve our ability to establish synchroneit y
of phenomena and linkage with impacts, we likely will
never be capable of identifying their effects in the sedi-
mentary record. The paradox does not lie in the nature of
things, but in our own procedural methodology. If so, the
true relevance of bolide impacts to the sedimentary re-
cord is greater than is now, and possibly ever will be,
realized,” Clifton [2].
“On the other hand, there is a general difficulty in
connecting impact ejecta horizons with possible source
craters, in the face of an ever changing, and refinement
of the geological time-scale [3,7] and the relatively poor
chronological record for terrestrial impact structures
(where many ages have errors of the order of 10 s of Ma
or even more),” Reimold [3].
Figure 15. Jebel Ammar near Batu el Gul exhibiting pa-
laeoloess deposits (lower part) overlain by glaciofluvial clas-
tics bearing reworked faceted and striated pebbles at their
base. At top, onsetting transgression (TST) with brachio-
pod-bearing sandstones transferring to black shales. Am-
mar F., south-eastern desert near Mudawwara.

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH 249
Relating to the sequence-analytical parameters of Fig-
ure 4, there is little possibility to find ejecta horizons
throughout the early Palaeozoic systems of Jordan, but,
rather, to encounter over-regional, even global, effects
triggered by major impacts in terms of re-activation of
labile faulting systems initiating magmatism, deposition
of anoxic and high energy sediments, extremely high de-
trital input or extraordinary mineralogical and chemical
variations of clastics in both source areas and deposi-
tional environments (comp.[17]: Figure 20).
Since impacts of large extraterrestrial bodies develop
gigantic amounts of energy [3,17-21]: (Figure 11(b)) that
may have world-wide influence, Jordan as located at the
margin of the Arabian Plate, adjacent to the Jordan Val-
ley Rift, and close to a triple junction (Figure 2), repre-
sents a “sensitive” geological setting with regard to con-
vulsive events on globe that may initiate sea level chan-
ges, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc.
3.1. Re-Activated Faulting Systems Triggering
Magmatism
Whether and up to what grade major impacts may cause
magmatism has been broadly discussed throughout the
last decades (e.g. [22]).
There is no doubt that major bolides would produce
impact melts at impact location [3]. Furthermore, Price
[10] postulates magma origination along important fault
systems when such bolides hit the earth far away from
the magmatic site, by causing a significant change of di-
rection and speed of plate motions. That, in his opinion,
concerns most of the extensive flood and plateau basalts
on Earth. Negi et al. [23] interpret the Deccan Trap ba-
salts as a result of impacting, too.
By application of Pr ice’s 550 Ma-Event to Jord an, this
would coincide (within the realm of analytical error) with
the Main Proterozoic Unconformity of the Pan-African
Orogeny (550 Ma), and with the onset of the late bimodal
volcanic/subvolcanic suite of Wadi Araba, Jordan Rif t as
well (550 - 540 Ma: [11,12]).
3.2. Anoxic Sediments
Major impacts may generally originate two types of
oxygen-deficient sediments: (a) millimetre-thin soot-la-
yers caused by wildfires of wide, even global, extension
as encountered at the K/T-boundary [24-28] tremendous
volumes of ash and dust migration in the atmosphere and
stratosphere around the globe lasting for several months,
interrupt accompanied by significant temperature de-
crease, the assimilation of green plants (photosynthesis)
[29-32]. Consequently, huge amounts of organic matter,
marine plankton, and algae decay and produce Corg-rich
sediments like black shales and bituminous carbonate
rocks under varying pH-, Eh-conditions.
Throughout Earth history, in many cases like, e.g. in
the upper Palaeozoic of Central Europe, black shales
frequently appear at the base of transgressions (MFS) on
flat shelf platforms [33]. Focusing on the early Palaeo-
zoic anoxic shales of Jordan, Arabian Plate, there may be
coincidence with Price’s Events at the following strati-
graphic levels:
Price’s 514 Ma-Event precedes immediately the base
of the Burj-anoxic shales at Wadi Araba and on the Ara-
bian Plate in general (513 Ma) that connects with the
onset of subsidence following peneplation on the Arabian
Plate. A major anoxic event on ocean floor is indicated
for this period [5].
Price’s 455.4/456 Ma-Event coincides with the Du-
baydib F./Tubeiliyat M., boundary in Jordan and with
oil-prone black shales on th e Arabian Plate (MFS 040).
Price’s 441 Ma-Event occurred when black shale
deposition already took place in south-east Jo rdan [16]. It
started shortly prior to the Silurian base (443.7 Ma) while,
however, on the Arabian Plate the black shale (S 10: 440
Ma) fits the impact date. At the time of black shale depo-
sition indicated for extensive ocean floor areas [5] what
happened during the South Hemisphere glaciations,
Gondwana extended southward towards higher latitudes.
3.3. Temporary High Detrital Input and
Significant M i n er a l o gi c Cha n g e
The deltaic sandstones of the Umm Ishrin F./Disi F.
ranging in age from Late Cambrian to the Tremadoc/
Arenig boundary are, at some levels, extremely thick-
bedded, own overdimensial overturned cross-bedding (Fig-
ure 8), and a massive structure less occurrence [13,34].
They indicate high transport velocity, high sedimentation
rates, and partly flash flood character. The Umm Ishrin F.
some 350 m thick comprises 10 Ma (Figure 4) and con-
sequently an average sedimentation rate of 35 mm/1000
a. The Disi F., approximately 300 m thick and covering a
period of 13 Ma, yields a rate of 23 mm/1000 a. That
means that the sedimentation rates of temporary high en-
ergy transport and depositional processes were much
higher which mainly concerns the Disi F.
The colour change from the (red) Umm Ishrin sand-
stone to the (white) Disi sandstone signals an abrupt
change of weathering conditions. This lithostratigraphic
level in Jordan coincides with a SB on the Arabian Plate
and with Price’s 502 Ma-Event (Figure 4). An explana-
tion for extremely intensive rainfall can be given by the
catastrophic weather conditions after a major impact [35,
36].
From the HST Cm 20 on (506 Ma), documented in
Jordan by the Burj F./Umm Ishrin F. boundary, there
occurs an abrupt disappearance of feldspar and an abrupt
increase of kaolinite/dickite in the sandstone series (Fig-
ure 11, [14]). That indicates extremely low pH-values of

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH
250
weathering solutions in both source areas and deposi-
tional environments as well, lasting until the next anoxic
event (black shales of the Hiswah F.). As a heavy mi-
neral grain, even tourmaline reveals extraordinary etch-
ing figures as solution pattern (Figure 11).
One might argue pore water of high acidity would be
the reason. However, high feldspar contents in both un-
derlying and overlying sandstone-series contradict.
Rather, one should encounter the reason in the source
areas of the clastics and explain the extreme weathering
conditions by intens ive rain fall of high acidity. As Crut-
zen [37] Lewis [38] and Prinn & Fegley [36] argued, the
high acidic character of rain water can be explained by
nitrogen acids originated via nitric oxides by an impact
event. If we focus on Price’s 514 Ma-Event, it could
have the according influence throughout 8 Ma in order to
bring this extremely high acidic weathering over the gra-
nitoid rocks exposed in the south-east-located Gondwana
hinterlands.
4. Conclusions
“The ‘Rare Event’ in Geology is defined as a spasm,
episode or punctuation of such a low rate of occurrence
that it has taken place at most a few times through all of
Earth History. There is no known physical law that per-
mits to relegate such highly improbable events into the
realm of the impossible [1]”. Since then, geoscientists
more frequently assume major impacts than expressed in
this quotation. Nevertheless, the only impact crater cer-
tain throughout the Phanerozoic, originated from the
K/T-impact-event at Chicxulub crater, Mexico, though
mass extinctions at several formation boundaries may
give evidence on further convulsive events [3,17].
If it could be pointed out that Price’s concept would be
wrong or not solid enough to meet all scientific require-
ments, this paper would just represent a scientific game.
Furthermore, if the analytical error of the radiometric
data of both Price [10] and Haq & Al-Qahtani [5] does
not own the necessary exactness, it wou ld, in turn, under-
line its scientific game character. Though Haq & Al-
Qahtani’s [5] data of the Arabian Plate are based on a
high density and reliability of exploration, even an ana-
lytical error of  0.5 Ma would give no definite certainty
of impact-relating to the sequence-analytical record (MFS,
SB). However, the more fold dense approach to coinci-
dence cannot be only a lucky chance. That means we, in
this case, are facing a geoscientific “boundary dispute”.
Accepting the methodology applied, a “rigid scientist”
sensu Gretener does face a problem. His attitude would
mean refusing the opening of new windows towards the
future of Geoscien ces. Opening and non-o pening of such
windows obviously depends on personality [39,40]. Find-
ing ejecta horizons throughout the Paleozoic seems un-
probable because of erosion, reworking, resedimenta-
tion, weathering, diagenesis etc., excep t within basins own-
ing continuous subsidence, high sedimentation rates, and
low chemical diagenesis for preservation.
Finally, there cannot be any doubt that major impacts
may have influence on exogenic and endogenic geologic
processes with regard to over-regional, even global, ex-
tension far away from the impact site (see references in
Chapter 3).
Hence, summarizing reasonable impact/sequence-ana-
lytical data relationship through the early Paleozoic of
Jordan as a “sensitive” setting at the margin of the Ara-
bian Plate, close to the Jordan Valley Rift and to an Early
Paleozoic triple junction, the following can be stated :
1) Faulting and magmatism at and after the 550 Ma-
Event at Wadi Araba.
2) Anoxic sediments coincide with Price’s impact data
in Jordan and the Arabian Plate at all (oil-prone source
rocks, MFS), like: Burj F. base (513 Ma), Dubaydib F./
Tubeiliyat M. boundary (454 Ma), and Ordovician/Silu-
rian boundary (440 Ma). However, the Hiswah F. black
shale does not show any correlation to one of Price’s im-
pact Events.
3) Onset of temporary high detrital input by intensive
rain fall starting at the base of the Disi F. (496 Ma) after
the 502 Ma-Event.
4) Significant disappearance of feldspar, high increase
of kaolinite/dick ite, and extreme solution pattern in sand -
stones (e.g. tourmaline) by acid (nitric) intensive rain fall
in the source areas after the 526.5 Ma- and the 514 Ma-
Event.
5. Closing Statement
“Da im Raster der naturwissenschaftlichen Disziplinen
nur Wirkungen zugelassen werden, scheint es so, als
müssten wir etwas ganz Seltenes, Entlegenes aufspüren,
wenn wir ‘Auswirkungen’ suchen. Der Trick der Wissen-
schaft besteht darin, auch den Beweis nur in der Form
der logischen Aufweisung, also im Horizont der Wirkung-
sketten, zuzulassen. Dann können natürlich “Auswir-
kungen” nie bewiesen werden, und die Vorhersage, “Aus-
wirkungen” gäbe es gar nicht, hat die Form einer sich
selbst erfüllenden Prophezeiung” [41].
Opposing Price’s impact event data with important
mass extinctions occurred thro ughou t th e Early Paleozo ic
Period (Figure 16), in every case an approximate age
coincidence between both can be stated. Thus, somewhat
like a “rendez-vous” of all three striking sedimentologic
pattern, mass extinction and Price’s impact data may be
verified in every case of event within the realm of this
geologic “boundary dispute”.
Even the anoxic Hiswah F. (469 Ma) which does not
show any correlation to Price’s impact event data, corre-
sponds with one of the significant mass extinctions (Fig-
ure 16).

W. SCHNEIDER, E. SALAMEH 251
Figure 16. Mass extinctions (genus extinction in per cent)
throughout the early Palaeozoic period after Stöffler (2002:
Figure 23). Letters A - F refer to Price’s impact event data.
6. Dedication and Acknowledgements
Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Wolf von Engelhardt. The author
is indebted to the colleagues of the Department of Geo-
logy, Jordan University, Amman and to N.R.A., Amman
for 30 years fruitful co-operation. Thanks to the chief edi-
tor of “GeoArabia”, M. Husseini, who already has allowed
use of Figure 2 on the left column of Figure 4 of the
former paper (2007 ). I do appreciate the sup port of H.-G.
Röhling, Hannover, and Mrs. H. Moltrecht, Groß-burg-
wedel, for brin ging the manu script into the di gital versio n.
Finally, I would like to emphasize the warm welcome of
many local Bedouins and villagers through three decades
of wonderful fieldwork.
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