Skip over navigation Princeton University * WebMail * PU Search * Search Geosciences * Contact Us Princeton University Princeton University [ Quick Links ] Go Department of Geosciences » People » keller * Home * About Us * People + All + Faculty + Staff + Student + * Research * Undergraduate * Graduate * Courses * Jobs * News * Events Gerta Keller - About Me Gerta Keller's primary research interests are major catastrophes in Earth's history in the broadest sense, including the biotic effects of catastrophes, such as meteorite impacts and episodes of major volcanic eruptions. Her research integrates paleontology, stratigraphy, sedimentology and geochemistry in reconstructing past environmental changes associated with or leading up to mass extinctions. Keller is well known for her contributions to the Cretaceous-Tertiary (KT) mass extinction debate. Recent findings include: 1. Chicxulub impact 300,000 years too early to have caused the KT mass extinction. Evidence from NE Mexico and the Chicxulub impact crater core Yaxcopoil-1. BBC Horizon Documentary "What didn't kill the Dinosaurs" (2004). 2. Drilling K-T strata on the Brazos Rose Ranch in Texas confirms the pre-KT age of the Chicxulub impact. (2007). 3. Chicxulub impact caused no extinctions and no climate or environmental changes. (2006-2007) 4. Main phase of Deccan volcanism in India ended near the KT boundary, indicating that volcanism must be considered a major contender for the mass extinction. (2007). 5. Beyond India: Global Impact of Deccan volcanism. About Me Research Teaching Group Publications Department of Geosciences Princeton University Guyot Hall Princeton NJ 08544 Phone: 609-258-4101 Fax: 609-258-1274 Web Feedback: Georgette Chalker Last update: December 15, 2010