Zhamanshin astrobleme provides evidence for carbonaceous chondrite and post-impact exchange between ejecta and...

Chemical fingerprints of impacts are usually compromised by extreme conditions in the impact plume, and the contribution of projectile matter to impactites does not often exceed a fraction of per cent. Here we use chromium and oxygen isotopes to identify the impactor and impact-plume processes for Zhamanshin astrobleme, Kazakhstan. ε⁵⁴Cr values up to 1.54 in irghizites, part of the fallback ejecta, represent the ⁵⁴Cr-rich extremity of the Solar System range and suggest a CI-like chondrite impactor. Δ¹⁷O values as low as -0.22‰ in irghizites, however, are incompatible with a CI-like impactor. We suggest that the observed ¹⁷O depletion in irghizites relative to the terrestrial range is caused by partial isotope exchange with atmospheric oxygen (Δ¹⁷O = -0.47‰) following material ejection. In contrast, combined Δ¹⁷O-ε⁵⁴Cr data for central European tektites (distal ejecta) fall into the terrestrial range and neither impactor fingerprint nor oxygen isotope exchange with the atmosphere are indicated.Identifying the original impactor from craters remains challenging. Here, the authors use chromium and oxygen isotopes to indicate that the Zhamanshin astrobleme impactor was a carbonaceous chrondrite by demonstrating that depleted 17O values are due to exchange with atmospheric oxygen.