[Mike Darancette]

After that, someone claimed that even a large impact wouldn't cause eruptions anyway.

I have yet to hear of a reason for the sudden appearance (concurrent with formation the Snake River Basalt) of what is now the Yellowstone Hot Spot some 17mya, other than an impactor.

[SunkenCiv]

I don't doubt that local volcanism might result from impact, but not worldwide volcanism. :') I just cone accept that. [rimshot!] Magma told me there'd be days like these. [rimshot!]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1743929/posts?page=3#3

"He asserted that he has found evidence -- in the form of gravity anomalies and certain rock deposits -- for such an impact in the South Atlantic, in an area where, many scientists believe, South America, Africa, and other land masses fit together in the primordial supercontinent called Gondwanaland. Rampino claims that the gradual breakup of Gondwanaland into present-day continents may have been initiated by the catastrophic impact."