Petrology and microstructure of distal impact ejecta from the Flinders Ranges, Australia
Date
1999
Authors
Gostin, V.
Zbik, M.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 1999; 34(4):587-592
Statement of Responsibility
Victor A. Gostin and Marek Zbik
Conference Name
Abstract
The Acraman impact ejecta from Bunyeroo Gorge in the central Flinders Ranges consist of clast-bearing and sandy sublayers set in a shale host rock. A calculated transient crater diameter for the Acraman impact of at least 34 km was obtained from average thicknesses and estimated distances of the ejecta from the impact in the Gawler Ranges. The ejecta contain numerous grains of quartz and zircon that display impact-produced features, including one or more sets of decorated planar deformation features. There is also much unshocked material incorporated in the ejecta layer. The coarse-grained ejecta layer embedded within fine-grained sediments allowed easy passage for diagenetic fluids that produced a porous honeycomb structure in the clays and enhanced the content of elements such as Cu, Pb, Zn, and U. The clay fraction of the ejecta layers consists of vermiculite and kaolinite, probably formed from alteration and weathering of glassy components. It appears that quartz and zircon grains are the only remnants unaltered by diagenetic processes.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Article first published online: 4 FEB 2010
Access Status
Rights
© Meteoritical Society, 1999