Duckduckgo AI assist:
The iridium layer, found in rock strata at the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, is associated with the mass extinction event that occurred 66 million years ago, including the extinction of the dinosaurs.
BRAVE AI:
Iridium is primarily created through the rapid neutron capture process (r-process) in the violent collisions of neutron stars, a process now considered a major source of heavy elements like iridium.
While supernovae were once thought to be the primary source for such heavy elements, current astrophysical understanding indicates that neutron star mergers are a significant, and possibly dominant, origin for iridium.
Some supernovae may also contribute to iridium production, but the r-process in neutron star mergers is now believed to be the most important mechanism.
The element is formed from neutron-rich nuclides produced during these events via the r-process, fission infall, or high-atomic-mass starting material...................