Experimental Data in Support of the 1991 Shock Classification of Chondrites

Details Experimental Data in Support of the 1991 Shock Classification of Chondrites Experimental Data in Support of the 1991 Shock Classification of Chondrites

Sep 1995

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995metic..30..547s&link_type=abstract

Meteoritics, vol. 30, no. 5, page 547

Computer Science

Chondrites, Classification, Experiments, Shock, Melting, Impact, Metamorphism, Meteorites, Kernouve

Scientific paper

We present results of shock recovery experiments performed on the H6(S1) chondrite Kernouv . These data and new observations on ordinary chondrites confirm the recently proposed classification system [1] and provide additional criteria for determining the shock stage, the shock pressure, and, under certain conditions, also the ambient (pre-shock) temperature during shock metamorphism of any chondrite sample. Two series of experiments at 293 K and 920 K and 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, and 60 GPa were made with a high explosive device [2] using 0.5 mm thick disks of the Kernouv chondrite. Shock effects in olivine, orthopyroxene, plagioclase, and troilite and shock-induced melt products were studied by optical [3], electron optical and X-ray diffraction methods. All essential characteristics of the six progressive stages of shock metamorphism (S1 - S6) observed in natural samples of chondrites [1] have been reproduced experimentally except for opaque shock veins and the high pressure polymorphs of olivine and pyroxene (ringwoodite/wadsleyite and majorite), well known from naturally shocked chondrites. This is probably due to the special sample and containment geometry and the extremely short pressure pulses (0.2 - 0.8 microseconds) in the experiments. The shock experiments provided a clear understanding of the shock wave behavior of troilite and of the shock-induced melting, mobilization, and exsolution-recrystallization of composite troilite-metal grains. At 293 K troilite is monocrystalline up to 35 GPa displaying undulatory extinction from 10 to 25 GPa, partial recrystallization from 30 - 45 GPa, and complete recrystallization above 45 GPa. Local melting of troilite/metal grains starts at 30 GPa and composite grains displaying exsolution textures of both phases are formed which get mobilized and deposited into fractures of neighbouring silicate grains above 45 GPa. For a pre-shock temperature of 293 K the pressure at which diagnostic shock effects are formed, is somewhat lower in the experimentally shocked Kernouve than in single crystals [1] (Table 1). Based on the Kernouve calibration and on new observations made in natural samples of shocked chondrites an updated version of the 1991 shock classification system is given in Table 1 which holds for low temperatures. In general, the increase of the pre-shock temperature (e.g., 920 K) leads to a distinct decrease of the pressure at which certain shock effects are produced (Table 1). This effect, most distinct for recrystallization and melting phenomena in olivine and troilite, can be used as a pre-shock thermometer. Provided that a post-shock thermal event can be excluded, an estimate of the pre-shock ambient temperature of chondrites of shock stages S2 - S5 can be made by monitoring the texture of troilite. If troilite is monocrystalline, this temperature was low. Polycrystalline troilite indicates a pre-shock temperature higher than 300 K, probably as high as some 900 K. For chondrites of shock stage S6, the ambient pre-shock temperature exceeded 300 K distinctly if olivine near local melt zones lacks the yellow-brown staining characteristic for shock metamorphism at low temperatures. References: [1] Stoffler D. et al. (1991) GCA, 55, 3845-3867. [2] Stoffler D. and Langenhorst F. (1994) Meteoritics, 29, 155-181. [3] Schmitt R. T. et al. (1993) Meteoritics, 29, 529-530.

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