Final answer:
Approximately 100 trillion tons of dust were lifted into the atmosphere as a result of the explosion that created the Chicxulub crater, which can be estimated by the thickness of the sediment layer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the Big Hole, which is commonly associated with the Kimberley mine in South Africa, a famous diamond mine that resulted in the excavation of a large amount of earth. However, the information provided speaks about the Chicxulub crater, which is a geological result of the impact that is believed to have led to the extinction of dinosaurs, as well as references to ancient earthwork in Upper Egypt, and modern-day construction at historical sites. For the Chicxulub crater specifically, the explosion lifted about 100 trillion tons of dust into the atmosphere. The amount of excavated material can be estimated by measuring the thickness of the sediment layer that settled after the dust was lifted into the atmosphere following the impact event that created the crater.