Planar Deformation Features In Quartz Research Articles

Tying Shock Features to Impact Conditions: The Significance of Shear Deformation During Impact Cratering

AbstractImpact cratering is associated with extreme physical conditions with temperatures and pressures far exceeding conditions otherwise prevailing at the surfaces of terrestrial planets. As a consequence, shock‐metamorphosed rocks contain unique deformation features such as planar deformation features in quartz, high‐pressure mineral polymorphs and melted rock. While the physical conditions of formation for impact‐induced melting following the highest pressure and temperature conditions is relatively well understood, aspects of the formation of melt‐veins in otherwise seemingly relatively low shock material has been the topic of discussion. In a new study, Hamann et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE007742) are able to largely reproduce the current classification of progressive shock metamorphism of felsic rocks using a modern experimental set up that eliminates multiple shock wave reflections at sample containers and excavation and ejection of target material. Importantly, however, they find that shear deformation results in the formation of melt veins at pressures as low as 6 GPa. The authors recover stishovite in melt veins formed at low‐moderate (<18 GPa) shock pressure, lower than most previous studies. These results have bearing on our understanding of the conditions of progressive shock metamorphism at terrestrial impact structures. However, since the results are similar to data obtained from experiments on basaltic rocks, the results also have broader implications for understanding the shock histories of meteorite parent bodies. Hamann et al. show the importance of experimental impact cratering for bridging the gap between observations in shocked rocks from terrestrial impact structures, in meteorites, and in returned samples, and their formational conditions.

A Revision of the Formation Conditions of the Vredefort Crater

AbstractThe Vredefort impact structure, located in South Africa and formed 2.02 Ga, is the largest confirmed remnant impact crater on Earth. The widely accepted impactor diameter and velocity to form this crater are 15 km and 15 km/s, respectively, which produce a crater diameter of 172 km. This is much smaller than the most commonly cited estimates (250–280 km), and while previous results were able to match the geologic evidence known at that time, these impact parameters are not consistent with more recent geological constraints. Here, we conduct impact simulations to model the Vredefort crater formation with the shock physics code impact Simplified Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (iSALE). Our numerical simulations show that combinations of the impactor diameter and impact velocity of 25 km and 15 km/s or 20 km and 25 km/s are able to recreate the larger crater size of ∼250 km. Moreover, these configurations can reproduce shock‐metamorphic features present in the impact structure today, including the distributions of breccia, shatter cones, planar deformation features in quartz and zircon, and melt. Our model also predicts that Vredefort and Karelia, Russia, where an ejecta layer from the impact was found, were approximately 2,000–2,500 km apart based on the layer thickness. Additionally, we use this model to predict the potential global effects of such a large impact by estimating the amount of climatically important gases released to the atmosphere at the time. Our work demonstrates the need to revisit previously estimated impactor parameters for large terrestrial craters in order to better characterize impact events on Earth and elsewhere.

Nova Colinas, Maranhão State: A newly confirmed, complex impact structure in Brazil

AbstractThe Nova Colinas structure is an approximately 7 km wide, nearly circular feature centered at 07°09′33″S/46°06′30″W in Nova Colinas municipality in southwestern Maranhão State, Brazil. The area has been investigated for 40 yr and it has been suggested repeatedly that the structure could be of impact origin—without proof having been furnished. Magnetic anomaly maps depict the structure clearly with a strong, positive magnetic anomaly over the apparent rim zone. The central area is characterized by significant positive K and Th radiometric anomalies. Fieldwork showed that the structure has annular features along the outside and some prominent, structurally dissected hills in the interior. Thirty‐three arenite samples were collected for petrographic analysis, mostly from within the structure. Microdeformation, in the form of cataclasis; concussion fractures related to compaction, and presence of planar fractures, feather features, and planar deformation features in quartz are reported. Three samples with a multitude of quartz grains with these microdeformations were analyzed by universal stage to determine the crystallographic orientations of planar fractures and planar deformation features. The results provide robust evidence that these microdeformation features represent shock metamorphism, with low (approximately 5–10 GPa) to moderate (10–16 and 10–20 GPa) shock levels. Thus, the Nova Colinas structure is now confirmed as a bona fide meteorite impact structure. The structure is moderately eroded, as shown by the absence of stronger shock deformation. The still limited available structural geological field evidence, paired with remote sensing and geophysical data, indicates that the innermost part of the structure may have a sizable remnant of a central uplift. The Nova Colinas impact age is only poorly constrained from stratigraphic inference to an upper limit of about 200–250 Ma.

Yilan crater, a newly identified impact structure in northeast China

This study reports the discovery of Yilan crater, a newly identified impact structure in northeast China. The crater has a rim-to-rim diameter of 1.85 km, and is located in Yilan County of Heilongjiang Province. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the crater are 46°23′03″N and 129°18′40″E, respectively. The crater lies in a low mountainous and hilly area of the southwest border of the Xiaoxinganling mountain range. Most of the crater is covered with dense forests. Geotectonically, the area belongs to the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt where strong tectonic and magmatic activities have occurred since the late Proterozoic. The crater was entirely formed within the bedrock of Cretaceous granite and appears as a bowl-shaped structure. Approximately one-third of the southern part of the crater rim has been significantly eroded and mostly removed; otherwise, most of the crater rim is well preserved. In a panoramic view, the crater appears as an unclosed ring mountain surrounding a circular depression, and it has steep walls and a relatively flat floor. The crater rim raises approximately 70–120 m above the surrounding terrain. The maximum elevation of the crater rim over the present crater floor is approximately 150 m. Most of the crater rim is composed of granite impact breccia varying from granules to boulders in size. The crater’s interior has been filled by a large amount of granite impact breccia at the bottom and lacustrine deposits at the top. The target rock of granite contains abundant quartz. This study investigated the planar deformation features (PDFs) in the quartz, which is one of the commonest shock metamorphic features in numerous terrestrial impact structures. For the investigation, granite impact breccia was collected from the crater floor. Most of the samples were made into polished thin sections for identifying the PDFs in quartz. Some fine-grained fragments of quartz were also collected from the samples for observation and analysis. The crystallographic orientations of the quartz PDFs were observed on a 4-axis universal stage under an optical microscope. No PDFs in quartz were observed in the quartz of large granite breccia fragments, but many PDFs appeared in the quartz of the fine-grained samples. One to four sets of PDFs in quartz were observed. The forms of the PDFs with Miller indices, such as (0001), { 10 1 ¯ 1 } and { 10 1 ¯ 3 }, were indexed. The observed multiple sets of PDFs in quartz provide unambiguous evidence of shock-metamorphism and confirm an impact origin of the structure. The topographic and structural features of the crater, as well as the occurrences of crater-filled materials (impact breccia and lacustrine deposits), characterize a bolide impact site. Based on 14C dating of the lacustrine deposits from the crater floor, the Crater Lake disappeared approximately 10 ka ago; this disappearance can be related to the loss of crater rim in the southern part of the crater. The large-scale absence of the crater rim cannot be explained by tectonic activity, normal weathering, or erosional process, and must correspond to directional erosion caused by a specific exogenic geological process after the formation of the impact crater. The geologic agent, mechanism, and history of the strong erosion of the crater rim require further investigation. The Yilan crater is the second confirmed impact structure in a large country (China) with an area of 9.6 million square kilometers.

New shock microstructures in titanite (CaTiSiO5) from the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact structure, Mexico

Accessory mineral geochronometers such as apatite, baddeleyite, monazite, xenotime and zircon are increasingly being recognized for their ability to preserve diagnostic microstructural evidence of hypervelocity-impact processes. To date, little is known about the response of titanite to shock metamorphism, even though it is a widespread accessory phase and a U–Pb geochronometer. Here we report two new mechanical twin modes in titanite within shocked granitoid from the Chicxulub impact structure, Mexico. Titanite grains in the newly acquired core from the International Ocean Discovery Program Hole M0077A preserve multiple sets of polysynthetic twins, most commonly with composition planes (K1) = ~ {1¯11}, and shear direction (η1) = , and less commonly with the mode K1 = {130}, η1 = ~ . In some grains, {130} deformation bands have formed concurrently with the deformation twins, indicating dislocation slip with Burgers vector b = can be active during impact metamorphism. Titanite twins in the modes described here have not been reported from endogenically deformed rocks; we, therefore, propose this newly identified twin form as a result of shock deformation. Formation conditions of the twins have not been experimentally calibrated, and are here empirically constrained by the presence of planar deformation features in quartz (12 ± 5 and ~ 17 ± 5 GPa) and the absence of shock twins in zircon (< 20 GPa). While the lower threshold of titanite twin formation remains poorly constrained, identification of these twins highlight the utility of titanite as a shock indicator over the pressure range between 12 and 17 GPa. Given the challenges to find diagnostic indicators of shock metamorphism to identify both ancient and recent impact evidence on Earth, microstructural analysis of titanite is here demonstrated to provide a new tool for recognizing impact deformation in rocks where other impact evidence may be erased, altered, or did not manifest due to generally low (< 20 GPa) shock pressure.

The Erbisberg drilling 2011: Implications for the structure and postimpact evolution of the inner ring of the Ries impact crater

AbstractThe 26 km diameter Nördlinger Ries is a complex impact structure with a ring structure that resembles a peak ring. A first research drilling through this “inner crystalline ring” of the Ries was performed at the Erbisberg hill (SW Ries) to better understand the internal structure and lithology of this feature, and possibly reveal impact‐induced hydrothermal alteration. The drill core intersected the slope of a 22 m thick postimpact travertine mound, before entering 42 m of blocks and breccias of crystalline rocks excavated from the Variscan basement at &gt;500 m depth. Weakly shocked gneiss blocks that show that shock pressure did not exceed 5 GPa occur above polymict lithic breccias of shock stage Ia (10–20 GPa), with planar fractures and planar deformation features (PDFs) in quartz. Only a narrow zone at 49.20–50.00 m core depth exhibits strong mosaicism in feldspar and {102} PDFs in quartz, which are indicative of shock stage Ib (20–35 GPa). Finally, 2 m of brecciated Keuper sediments at the base of the section point to an inverse layering of strata. While reverse grading of clast sizes in lithic breccias and gneiss blocks is consistent with lateral transport, the absence of diaplectic glass and melt products argues against dynamic overthrusting of material from a collapsing central peak, as seen in the much larger Chicxulub structure. Indeed, weakly shocked gneiss blocks are rather of local provenance (i.e., the transient crater wall), whereas moderately shocked polymict lithic breccias with geochemical composition and 87Sr/86Sr signature similar to Ries suevite were derived from a position closer to the impact center. Thus, the inner ring of the Ries is formed by moderately shocked polymict lithic breccias likely injected into the transient crater wall during the excavation stage and weakly shocked gneiss blocks of the collapsing transient crater wall that were emplaced during the modification stage. While the presence of an overturned flap is not evident from the Erbisberg drilling, a survey of all drillings at or near the inner ring point to inverted strata throughout its outer limb. Whether the central ring of the Ries represents remains of a collapsed central peak remains to be shown. Postimpact hydrothermal alteration along the Erbisberg section comprises chloritization, sulfide veinlets, and strong carbonatization. In addition, a narrow zone in the lower parts of the polymict lithic breccia sequence shows a positive Eu anomaly in its carbonate phase. The surface expression of this hydrothermal activity, i.e., the travertine mound, comprises subaerial as well as subaquatic growth phases. Intercalated lake sediments equivalent to the early parts of the evolution of the central crater basin succession confirm a persistent impact‐generated hydrothermal activity, although for less time than previously suggested.

Estimating average shock pressures recorded by impactite samples based on universal stage investigations of planar deformation features in quartz—Sources of error and recommendations

AbstractPlanar deformation features (PDFs) in quartz are the most widely used indicator of shock metamorphism in terrestrial rocks. They can also be used for estimating average shock pressures that quartz‐bearing rocks have been subjected to. Here we report on a number of observations and problems that we have encountered when performing universal stage measurements and crystallographically indexing of PDF orientations in quartz. These include a comparison between manual and automated methods of indexing PDFs, an evaluation of the new stereographic projection template, and observations regarding the PDF statistics related to the c‐axis position and rhombohedral plane symmetry. We further discuss the implications that our findings have for shock barometry studies. Our study shows that the currently used stereographic projection template for indexing PDFs in quartz might induce an overestimation of rhombohedral planes with low Miller–Bravais indices. We suggest, based on a comparison of different shock barometry methods, that a unified method of assigning shock pressures to samples based on PDFs in quartz is necessary to allow comparison of data sets. This method needs to take into account not only the average number of PDF sets/grain but also the number of high Miller–Bravais index planes, both of which are important factors according to our study. Finally, we present a suggestion for such a method (which is valid for nonporous quartz‐bearing rock types), which consists of assigning quartz grains into types (A–E) based on the PDF orientation pattern, and then calculation of a mean shock pressure for each sample.

Kamenetsk-A new impact structure in the Ukrainian Shield

The Kamenetsk impact structure is a deeply eroded simple crater that formed in crystalline rocks of the Ukrainian Shield. This study presents structural, lithologic, and shock metamorphic evidence for an impact origin of the Kamenetsk structure, which was previously described as a paleovolcano. The Kamenetsk structure is an oval depression that is 1.0–1.2 km in diameter and 130 m deep. The structure is deeply eroded, and only the lower part of the sequence of lithic breccia has been preserved in the deepest part of the crater to recent time, while the predominant part of impact rocks and postimpact sediments was eroded. Manifestations of shock metamorphism of minerals, especially planar deformation features in quartz and feldspars, were determined by petrographic investigations of lithic breccia that allowed us to determine the impact origin of the Kamenetsk structure. The erosion of the crater and surrounding target to a minimal depth of 220 m preceded the deposition of the postimpact sediments. The time of the formation of the Kamenetsk structure is bracketed within a wide interval from 2.0 to 2.1 Ga, the age of the crystalline target rocks, to the Late Miocene age of the sediments overlaying the crater. The deep erosion of the structure suggests it is probably Paleozoic in age.

Scanning electron microscope cathodoluminescence imaging of subgrain boundaries, twins and planar deformation features in quartz

The study of deformation features has been of great importance to determine deformation mechanisms in quartz. Relevant microstructures in both growth and deformation processes include dislocations, subgrains, subgrain boundaries, Brazil and Dauphiné twins and planar deformation features (PDFs). Dislocations and twin boundaries are most commonly imaged using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), because these cannot directly be observed using light microscopy, in contrast to PDFs. Here, we show that red-filtered cathodoluminescence imaging in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a useful method to visualise subgrain boundaries, Brazil and Dauphiné twin boundaries. Because standard petrographic thin sections can be studied in the SEM, the observed structures can be directly and easily correlated to light microscopy studies. In contrast to TEM preparation methods, SEM techniques are non-destructive to the area of interest on a petrographic thin section.

WIP: A Web‐based program for indexing planar features in quartz grains and its usage

AbstractPlanar deformation features (PDFs) in quartz are the most important diagnostic features that allow the unambiguous identification of impact structures on Earth. In order to confirm that these features (that are characterized by planar character and form along specific crystallographic planes) are indeed PDFs, they need to be properly investigated and indexed. Following universal‐stage measurements, the process of indexing is usually performed manually, using a Wulff stereonet and following a strict procedure, which is time consuming and error prone. In this article, we present WIP, a new Web‐based program for indexing planar deformation features in quartz. The correctness of our program is shown by its application to measurements that had previously been indexed manually. The observed minor differences, especially in the absolute frequency percentage of PDFs, are negligible and not significant enough to influence the estimation of shock pressure that could be calculated from the indexed results. Usability of this program is shown using the spatial relationships between a statistically significant number of 278 quartz grains with 409 sets of PDFs analyzed within the area (~35 mm2) of a single thin section of a meta‐greywacke from the Bosumtwi impact structure. Our program is not only more accurate and faster than the manual (graphical) method but also removes the human error from the plotting process and allows control of several parameters, such as the value of estimated measurement error used in the indexing calculation or method of aggregated error handling. The program also provides information about the angles between the planes of the measured PDF sets present in a grain, which allows determination of the angles between (for example) indexed {} and {} sets.

Non-luminescent nature of the planar deformation features in shocked quartz from the Ries impact structure, Germany: A new interpretation

Quartz grains from the Ries impact structure containing shock-induced microstructures were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy in cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL), secondary electron (SEM-SE) and back-scattered electron (SEM-BSE) modes as well as Mott–Seitz analysis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mechanism by which CL detects Planar Deformation Features (PDFs) in quartz, which is one of the most important indicators of shock metamorphism in rock-forming minerals. PDFs are micron-scale features not easily identified using optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy. The CL spectrum of PDFs in quartz that has suffered relatively high shock pressure shows no or a relatively weak emission band at around 385 nm, whereas an emission band with a maximum near 650 nm is observed independent of shock pressure. Thus, the ~385 nm intensity in shocked quartz demonstrates a tendency to decrease with increasing shock metamorphic stage, whereas the 650 nm band remains fairly constant. The result indicates that the emission band at 385 nm is related to the deformed structure of quartz as PDFs.

Characterization and morphological reconstruction of the Terny impact structure, central Ukraine

AbstractThe Terny impact structure, located in central Ukraine, displays a variety of diagnostic indicators of shock metamorphism, including shatter cones, planar deformation features in quartz, diaplectic glass, selective melting of minerals, and whole rock melting. The structure has been modified by erosion and subsequently buried by recent sediments. Although there are no natural outcrops of the deformed basement rocks within the area, mining exploration has provided surface and subsurface access to the structure, exposing impact melt rocks, shocked parautochthonous target rocks, and allochthonous impact breccias, including impact melt‐bearing breccias similar to suevites observed at the Ries structure. We have collected and studied samples from surface and subsurface exposures to a depth of approximately 750 m below the surface. This analysis indicates the Terny crater is centered on geographic coordinates 48.13° N, 33.52° E. The center location and the distribution of shock pressures constrain the transient crater diameter to be no less than approximately 8.4 km. Using widely accepted morphometric scaling relations, we estimate the pre‐erosional rim diameter of Terny crater to be approximately 16–19 km, making it close in original size to the well‐preserved El'gygytgyn crater in Siberia. Comparison with El'gygytgyn yields useful insights into the original morphology of the Terny crater and indicates that the amount of erosion Terny experienced prior to burial probably does not exceed 320 m.

Evidence of Shock Metamorphism Effects in Allochthonous Breccia Deposits from the Col&amp;#244;nia Crater, S&amp;#227;o Paulo, Brazil

The 3.6 km-diameter Colonia impact crater, centred at 2352'03S and 4642'27W, lies 40 km to the south-west of the S?o Paulo city. The structure was formed on the crystalline basement rocks and displays a bowl-shaped with steeper slope near the top that decreases gently toward the centre of the crater. Over recent years were drilled two boreholes inside the crater, which reached a maximum depth of 142 m and 197 m. Geological profile suggests four different lithological associations: 1) unshocked crystalline basement rocks (197 - 140 m); 2) fractured/brecciated basement rocks (140 - 110 m); 3) polymictic allochthonous breccia deposits (110 - 40 m); and 4) post-impact deposits (40 - 0 m). Petrographic characterisation of the polymictic allochthonous breccia reveals a series of distinctive shock-metamorphic features, including, among others, planar deformation features in quartz, feldspar and mica, ballen silica, granular texture in zircon and melt-bearing impact rocks. The occurrence of melt particles and very high-pressure phase transformation in suevite breccia suggest a shock pressure regime higher than 60 GPa.

Physical properties of Vilppula drill cores and petrographic analysis of associated breccias in Keurusselkä impact structure, central Finland

The Mesoproterozoic deeply eroded Keurusselka impact structure in central Finland is situated within the ∼1860–1890 Ma Central Finland Granitoid Complex. An estimate for the original size of the structure is 30 km, yielding a 5 km wide central uplift with insitu shatter cones and shock metamorphic features in quartz. Petrophysical and rock magnetic properties of the three shallow drill cores (V-001, V-002 and V-003) in the vicinity of the central uplift are determined in order to assess the dimensions of the central uplifts magnetic anomalies. The drill core lithologies consist of schists (metagraywackes), metavolcanic rocks, gneisses and breccia. Petrophysical properties of the drill core rocks show average densities (D) of 2644–2752 kg/m3, susceptibilities (κ) of 160–761 × 10−6 SI and natural remanent magnetization (NRM) of 3–306 mA/m and Koenigsberger Q ratios of 0.1–10. Rock magnetic measurements with temperature dependence of susceptibility (κ-T) curves and hysteresis indicated mostly paramagnetic behaviour. However, a fraction of fine-grained ferromagnetic minerals (pyrrhotite and magnetite) was detected from all lithologies. Breccia veins cutting the parautochthonous subcrater floor show lower values of petrophysical properties (D, κ, NRM, Q) and this could be related to the impact event. Amphiboles and micas in the breccia are strongly altered and replaced by secondary chlorite. Chloritization may indicate widespread impact-induced hydrothermal alteration of the target rocks or it may be related to regional tectonic shearing. However, planar deformation features in quartz, found from shatter cones in the central uplift area, are decorated with fluid inclusions indicating that alteration by post-impact processes was present.

Rock magnetic and paleomagnetic study of the Keurusselkä impact structure, central Finland

Abstract–There are 31 proven impact structures in Fennoscandia—one of the most densely crater‐populated areas of the Earth. The recently discovered Keurusselkä impact structure (62°08′ N, 24°37′ E) is located within the Central Finland Granitoid Complex, which formed 1890–1860 Ma ago during the Svecofennian orogeny. It is a deeply eroded complex crater that yields in situ shatter cones with evidence of shock metamorphism, e.g., planar deformation features in quartz. New petrophysical and rock magnetic results of shocked and unshocked target rocks of various lithologies combined with paleomagnetic studies are presented. The suggested central uplift with shatter cones is characterized by increased magnetization and susceptibility. The presence of magnetite and pyrrhotite was observed as carriers for the remanent magnetization. Four different remanent magnetization directions were isolated: (1) a characteristic Svecofennian target rock component A with a mean direction ofD = 334.8°,I = 45.6°, α95 = 14.9° yielding a pole (Plat = 51.1°, Plon = 241.9°,A95 = 15.1°), (2) component B,D = 42.4°,I = 64.1°, α95 = 8.4° yielding a pole (Plat = 61.0°, Plon = 129.1°,A95 = 10.6°), (3) component C (D = 159.5°,I= 65.4°, α95 = 10.7°) yielding a pole (Plat = 21.0°, Plon = 39.3°,A95 = 15.6°), and (4) component E (D = 275.5°,I = 62.0°, α95 = 14.4°) yielding a pole (Plat = 39.7°, Plon = 314.3°,A95 = 19.7°). Components C and E are considered much younger, possibly Neoproterozoic overprints, compared with the components A and B. The pole of component B corresponds with the 1120 Ma pole of Salla diabase dyke and is in agreement with the40Ar/39Ar age of 1140 Ma from a pseudotachylitic breccia vein in a central part of the structure. Therefore, component B could be related to the impact, and thus represent the impact age.

Planar Deformation Features in Quartz from the Ries Impact Crater: Advanced by Micro-Raman Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT Shocked quartz grains from the Ries impact structure containing planar microstructures such as Planar Deformation Features (PDFs) were characterized by using micro-Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectrum of shocked quartz shows several bands with an intense peak at 459 cm−1. Low intensity of broad Raman bands near 495 and 800 cm−1, which indicate the presence of silica glass, were detected in the PDFs. 2D Raman mapping of the shocked quartz grain shows various distribution patterns of the integrated intensity of A1 Raman band at 459 cm−1 and thus reveal a difference of crystallinity in shocked quartz. The shift and peak broadening of Raman bands to a lower wave number (459 cm−1) may be due to the degree of disordering in tetrahedral sites affected by shock pressure. The results show distinct changes of the Raman properties of quartz with shock pressure and point to a possible use of this method for the identification and characterization of Planar Deformation Features in quartz.

The newly confirmed Luizi impact structure, Democratic Republic of Congo—Insights into central uplift formation and post-impact erosion

Rocks exposed within the uplifted central part of meteorite impact structures come from signifi cant stratigraphic depths, in some cases as much as several kilometers. On Earth, cen- tral uplifts are commonly the fi nal and only feature of an impact crater that remains after the rest of the structure is lost to erosion. However, the crater-forming process that results in the formation of intricate features such as central peak and peak rings is poorly understood. Much of our knowledge is based on extraterrestrial observations; as on Earth, there are very few unequivocal examples of impact craters with well-preserved peak and ring morphologies, because of erosion. In this study we describe the ~17-km-diameter Luizi structure (Katanga region, Democratic Republic of Congo), a moderate-sized complex crater, with an intermedi- ate ring (~5.2 km in diameter), and an ~2-km-wide circular central ring around a central depression. For the fi rst time, unique evidence of shock metamorphism, in the form of macro- scopic shatter cones and multiple sets of microscopic planar deformation features in quartz and feldspar grains, is described, confi rming the meteorite impact origin of the structure. Our observations at Luizi provide insights into the formation of mid-sized impact craters on Earth, adding to the evidence that, in the case of sedimentary target lithologies, structural ring struc- tures within the central uplift may form by the collapse of an unstable central peak. Given the preservation state of the Luizi crater, it cannot be excluded that structural rings may be a common feature for mid-size craters developed in layered target rocks.

ANIE: A mathematical algorithm for automated indexing of planar deformation features in quartz grains

Abstract– Planar deformation features (PDFs) in quartz, one of the most commonly used diagnostic indicators of shock metamorphism, are planes of amorphous material that follow crystallographic orientations, and can thus be distinguished from non‐shock‐induced fractures in quartz. The process of indexing data for PDFs from universal‐stage measurements has traditionally been performed using a manual graphical method, a time‐consuming process in which errors can easily be introduced. A mathematical method and computer algorithm, which we call the Automated Numerical Index Executor (ANIE) program for indexing PDFs, was produced, and is presented here. The ANIE program is more accurate and faster than the manual graphical determination of Miller–Bravais indices, as it allows control of the exact error used in the calculation and removal of human error from the process.

Planar deformation features in quartz from impact‐produced polymict breccia of the Xiuyan crater, China

Abstract– The 1.8 km‐diameter Xiuyan crater is an impact structure in northeastern China, exposed in a Proterozoic metamorphic rock complex. The major rocks of the crater are composed of granulite, hornblendite, gneiss, tremolite marble, and marble. The bottom at the center of the crater covers about 100 m thick lacustrine sediments underlain by 188 m thick crater‐fill breccia. A layer of polymict breccia composed of clasts of granulite, gneiss, hornblendite, and fragments of glass as well as clastic matrix, occurs near the base, in the depth interval from 260 to 295 m. An investigation in quartz from the polymict breccia in the crater‐fill units reveals abundant planar deformation features (PDFs). Quartz with multiple sets of PDFs is found in clasts of granulite that consist of mainly quartz and feldspar, and in fine‐grained matrix of the impact‐produced polymict breccia. A universal stage was used to measure the orientation of PDFs in 70 grains of quartz from five thin sections made from the clasts of granulite of polymict breccia recovered at the depth of 290 m. Forty‐four percent of the quartz grains contain three sets of PDFs, and another 40% contain two sets of PDFs. The most abundant PDFs are rhombohedron forms of , , and with frequency of 33.5, 22.3, and 9.6%, respectively. A predominant PDF form of in quartz suggests a shock pressure &gt;20 GPa. The occurrence of PDFs in quartz from the polymict breccia provides crucial evidence for shock metamorphism of target rocks and confirms the impact origin of this crater, which thus appears to be the first confirmed impact crater in China.

Shock metamorphism investigations of quartz grains in clasts from impact breccia of the Eyreville B drill core, Chesapeake Bay impact structure, USA

Abstract– The Chesapeake Bay impact structure, approximately 85 km in diameter, has been drilled in 2005–2006 at Eyreville (Virginia, USA), to a total depth of 1766 m. In the drill cores, the abundance of shock metamorphosed material is very variable with depth. Shocked mineral and lithic clasts, as well as melt particles, are most abundant in suevitic impact breccia section (1397–1451 m depth). Shocked quartz (i.e., quartz grains with planar fractures and/or planar deformation features) and melt particles, although rare, are also dispersed in the Exmore Formation unit (444–867 m depth). Other lithologies in the Eyreville drill cores show no clear evidence of shock metamorphism. Here, we report on the investigations of 40 samples from the impact breccia section. A total of more than 27,000 quartz grains were examined in about 200 clasts. The abundance of highly shocked clasts tends to decrease with increasing depth. Crystalline clasts derived from the crystalline basement are commonly only slightly shocked (contain generally &lt;10 rel% of shocked quartz grains). The clasts of metamorphosed sediments show a low proportion of shocked quartz grains (mostly &lt;10 rel%). Sedimentary clasts show a wide range of proportions of shocked quartz grains, with several of them being highly shocked clasts (most values between 0 and 40 rel%). Conglomerates show the highest proportion of shocked quartz grains of all types of clasts (up to 83 rel%). Polycrystalline quartz clasts are also commonly highly shocked (contain mostly between 10 and 40 rel% of shocked quartz grains). These hard nonporous clasts are possibly more liable to show evidence of shock. The investigations suggest that the intensity of shock metamorphism is the result of several parameters, such as original position in the target (both horizontal and vertical) and the properties of each lithology (e.g., grain size, porosity, and amount of matrix). According to the universal‐stage investigations, the dominant orientations of planar deformation features in quartz are , , and also .