[meteorite-list] Impact Melt or Shock Melt?

From: Benjamin P. Sun <bpsun2009_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:30:47 -0400
Message-ID: <CAE1PX86TaEbjvvRuw-eU4uo-b6vDQR5X_j3eOH94jQ1XPyR58A_at_mail.gmail.com>

AFAIK, an impact melt is created from the heat and energy of the
collision itself. A contact metamorphism, in-situ. Whereas, a shock
melt is created by the energy of the shock waves that travel through
the rock and away from the impact site. The shock wave compression
generates the heat.
Reminds me of the great debate regarding Dhofar 026/461/ect. Whether
it is an impact melt or not. First, it was said to be an impact melt
breccia. Then others said it's actually a Shocked granulitic breccia.
Then the ambiguous Crystalline melt classification. And now, the
latest research puts it back as an Impact melt..
Received on Sat 29 Oct 2011 07:30:47 PM PDT