Study of glass from meteorite impact events

Many large meteorite impact events resulted in huge craters and affected the surface of the Earth since its formation. Molten target rocks can still be found today in the form of microtektites (submillimeter glassy spherules). The study of their composition, and particularly of their iron oxidation state, can provide information on the circumstances of the meteorite impact.

Left: Computer-generated gravity map image of the Chicxulub Crater on Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) (Image Credit: Virgil L. Sharpton, University of Alaska, Fairbanks). Right: Small black impact glass spherules (Image credit: C. Koeberl, University of Vienna).

Further information:

• Impact cratering effects on the target rock: iron oxidation state in microtektites

• Iron Oxidation State in Impact Glass by High-resolution XANES Spectroscopy: Implications on the Formation Conditions

• Ref.: G. Giuli et al., Meteoritics and Planetary Sciences 42, A56 (2007).