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Recovery from end-Cretaceous extinction
Recovery from end-Cretaceous extinction
The Danian (66–61.6 Ma) is the first age of the Paleocene Epoch, occurring after the Maastrichtian (Cretaceous Period), and before the Selandian.
Geologic Age
Geologic Age
66.0–61.6 million years ago
Eon / Era / Period / Epoch
Eon / Era / Period / Epoch
What happened during this time?
What happened during this time?
Recovery from the Cretaceous extinction
Cooler and dryer than the preceding Cretaceous
Ferns return quickly after bolide impact as evidenced by a spike in fern spores during Danian
Angiosperms recovered slower
Oldest flower from a buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) found during this time (Jud et al. 2017)
Above: Iridium layer from the bolide impact around 66 Ma. The upper layer is Paleogene (Danian) sediment; lower layers from the Cretaceous (Maastrictian)
Above: Oldest known buckthorn flower
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Life recovered rapidly at site of dino-killing asteroid. A hydrothermal system may have helped (Phys.org 8Apr2025)
└Sato et al. (2025) Prolonged 187Os/188Os excursion implies hydrothermal influence after the Chicxulub impact in the Gulf of Mexico
Patagonian fossil leaves reveal rapid recovery from dinosaur extinction event (Phys.org, 7Nov2016)
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