Impact geologists, beware!. Issue 17 (9th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Melosh, H. J.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 44:Issue 17(2017)
• Page Start: 8873
• Page End: 8874
• Publication Date: 2017-09-09
• Subjects: fulgurite -- lightning -- shocked quartz; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2017GL074840
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Impact geologists have long assumed that shock metamorphic features, such as planar fractures and Planar Deformation Features (PDFs) in quartz are reliable indicators of an extraterrestrial impact. A new paper by Chen et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073843 ) now shows that such features might arise in terrestrial lightning strikes, thus raising the bar for identification of impact sites. Key Points: Shocked quarts has been used as a definitive indicator of meteorite impact Authors show that fulgurites may produced shocked quartz Shocked quartz is no longer definitive of impact only