Petrographic, Xray diffraction, and electron spin resonance analysis of deformed calcite: Meteor Crater, Arizona Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Calcite crystals within the Kaibab limestone in Meteor Crater, Arizona, are examined to understand how calcite is deformed during a meteorite impact. The Kaibab limestone is a silty fine-grained and fossiliferous dolomudstone and the calcite crystals occur as replaced evaporite nodules with impact-induced twinning. Twinning in the calcite is variable with deformational regimes based on abundances of crystals with twins and twin densities within crystals. The twins are similar to those that are seen in low tectonically deformed regimes. Low levels of shock are inferred from minor peak broadening of the X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) of the calcite crystals. In addition, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy data also indicates low shock levels (<3.0 GPa). Quantitative shock pressures and correlation between the XRD and ESR results are poor due to the inferred low shock levels in conjunction with the analytical error associated in calculation of the shock pressures. The Meteoritical Society, 2005.

published proceedings

  • Meteoritics and Planetary Science

author list (cited authors)

  • Burt, J. B., Pope, M. C., & Watkinson, A. J.

citation count

  • 10

complete list of authors

  • Burt, Jason B||Pope, Mike C||Watkinson, A John

publication date

  • January 2005

publisher