Searching for Neoproterozoic meteorite impact combusted carbon cenospheres in palynological records

Carbon cenospheres comparable to those derived from incomplete combustion of coal or fuel-oil droplets appear to be present in Neoproterozoic post-impact sediments in the Gardnos meteorite crater in central Norway and in possible time-equivalent strata in East Finnmark, northern Norway. The Neoproterozoic cenospheres resemble carbon cenospheres found in K-Pg boundary sediments around the world linked to the Chicxulub meteorite impact on Yucatan and in sediments from the Early Cretaceous Mjølnir impact in the Barents Sea. A likely source of the Late Neoproterozoic carbonized cenospheres is hydrocarbons combusted from organic-rich sediments when the bolide hit the shallow marine impact site of the Gardnos meteorite crater. • Carbon cenospheres derived from incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons appear to be present in the Neoproterozoic Gardnos meteorite crater. • The Neoproterozoic cenosphares compares to carbon cenospheres found in sediments linked to the K-Pg boundary Chicxulub meteorite impact. • A likely source of the Gardnos crater cenospheres is hydrocarbons combusted from organic-rich sediments at the shallow marine impact site.