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10:33
Research and Development of High-performance Explosives
Published on: February 20, 2016
Maskelynite: Formation by Explosive Shock
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 10, 1963
Summary
Shock-loading gabbro transformed plagioclase into maskelynite via solid-state reaction. This finding supports the theory that shergottite meteorites formed from shock events.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Planetary Science
- Mineral Physics
Background:
- Gabbro is a common terrestrial intrusive igneous rock.
- Understanding mineral transformations under extreme conditions is crucial for planetary science.
- Shergottite meteorites provide insights into Martian geological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of shock-loading on gabbro at high pressures.
- To determine the mineralogical changes occurring in plagioclase and pyroxene under shock conditions.
- To explore the implications of these transformations for meteorite formation.
Main Methods:
- Sudden application of high pressure (250-300 kilobars) to gabbro samples (shock-loading).
- Analysis of mineral phases and structural changes post-shock.
- Comparison of shock-loaded gabbro with meteorite samples.
Main Results:
- Plagioclase in gabbro transformed into maskelynite (a noncrystalline phase) via solid-state reaction at low temperatures.
- Pyroxene remained crystalline under similar shock conditions.
- Higher shock pressures (600-800 kilobars) caused temperatures exceeding the plagioclase melting point.
Conclusions:
- Shock-loading is a viable mechanism for maskelynite formation in terrestrial rocks.
- The observed transformations in gabbro provide a terrestrial analogue for processes occurring in meteorite impacts.
- This study supports the hypothesis that shergottite meteorites are impactites formed by shock events on planetary bodies.
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