ISSN:
1432-2153
Keywords:
Shock waves
;
Meteoritic impact
;
Hypervelocity impact
;
K/T boundary
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
,
Technology
Notes:
Abstract There is material evidence for the existence of shock waves generated by meteoritic impact. This is demonstrated by the pressure and temperature dependent formation processes that exist in the memory of constituent minerals. Stishovite of high-pressure type silica mineral can be observed to be a relict of the compression stage of shock impact. Almost all of the silica minerals evolved from shock impact phenomena are α-quartz crystals of a low-temperature type silica polymorph. By using precise measurements of cell parameters and the corresponding calculated density of the quartz crystal grains collected by an ultrasonic cutter method, shocked quartz grains can be interpreted as the principle relict of meteoritic impact from natural impact craters, artificial impact craters and Cretaceous-Tertiary (K/T) boundary samples.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01414866
Permalink
