Impact cratering is an important geological process on the terrestrial planets and rocky and icy moons of the outer solar system. Impact events generate pressures and temperatures that can melt a substantial volume of the target; however, there remains considerable discussion as to the effect of target lithology on the generation of impact melts. Early studies showed that for impacts into crystalline targets, coherent impact melt rocks or sheets are formed with these rocks often displaying classic igneous structures (e.g., columnar jointing) and textures. For impact structures containing some amount of sedimentary rocks in the target sequence, a wide range of impactgenerated lithologies have been described, although it has generally been suggested that impact melt is either lacking or is volumetrically minor. This is surprising given theoretical constraints, which show that as much melt should be produced during impacts into sedimentary targets. The question then arises: where has all the melt gone? The goal of this synthesis is to explore the effect of target lithology on the products of impact melting. A comparative study of the similarly sized Haughton, Mistastin, and Ries impact structures, suggests that the fundamental processes of impact melting are basically the same in sedimentary and crystalline targets, regardless of target properties. Furthermore, using advanced microbeam analytical techniques, it is apparent that, for the structures under consideration here, a large proportion of the melt is retained within the crater (as crater-fill impactites) for impacts into sedimentary-bearing target rocks. Thus, it is suggested that the basic products are genetically equivalent but they just appear different. That is, it is the textural, chemical and physical properties of the products that vary.

The mobilization of K, rare earth elements (REE), Th, and U from Martian surface material upon contact with acidic solutions probably occurred extensively on Mars about 4 to 3.5 Ga ago and seems to have occurred locally in more recent times. We have studied the dissolution of these elements by leaching the basaltic shergottite Zagami and the terrestrial basalt BE-N at constant pH values ranging from 5 to 1 in the absence and presence of added salts. Potassium is nearly immobile in Zagami and mobilized readily from BE-N. The REE reside mostly in calcium phosphates and dissolve readily, with those in whitlockite of Zagami reacting slightly better than those in apatite of BE-N. Thorium and U also reside mostly in calcium phosphates. Both dissolve similarly for both basalts and less readily than the REE. The experiments indicate the extent of the mobilization of K, REE, Th, and U, when acidic water leached the surface of Mars. Potassium was released slowly and in a small relative amount. The REE, and particularly the LREE, became mobile readily and were possibly distributed over large areas before immobilization. Thorium and U dissolved more slowly than the REE and were distributed less widely.

Noble gas data from Martian meteorites have provided key constraints about their origin and evolution, and their parent body. These meteorites have witnessed varying shock metamorphic overprinting (at least 5 to 14 GPa for the nakhlites and up to 45-55 GPa (e.g., the lherzolitic shergottite Allan Hills [ALH] A77005), solar heating, cosmic-ray exposure, and weathering both on Mars and Earth. Influences on the helium budgets of Martian meteorites were evaluated by using a new data set and literature data. Concentrations of 3He, 4He, U, and Th are measured and shock pressures for same sample aliquots of 13 Martian meteorites were determined to asses a possible relationship between shock pressure and helium concentration. Partitioning of 4He into cosmogenic and radiogenic components was performed using the lowest 4He/3He ratio we measured on mineral separates (4He/3He = 4.1, pyroxene of ALHA77005). Our study revealed significant losses of radiogenic 4He. Systematics of cosmogenic 3He and neon led to the conclusion that solar radiation heating during transfer from Mars to Earth and terrestrial weathering can be ruled out as major causes of the observed losses of radiogenic helium in bulk meteorites. For bulk rock we observed a correlation of shock pressure and radiogenic 4He loss, ranging between ~20% for Chassigny and other moderately shocked Martian meteorites up to total loss for meteorites shocked above 40 GPa. A steep increase of loss occurs around 30 GPa, the pressure at which plagioclase transforms to maskelynite. This correlation suggests significant 4He loss induced by shock metamorphism. Noble gas loss in rocks is seen as diffusion due to (1) the temperature increase during shock loading (shock temperature) and (2) the remaining waste heat after adiabatic unloading (post shock temperature). Modeling of 4He diffusion in the main U,Th carrier phase apatite showed that post-shock temperatures of ~300 degrees C are necessary to explain observed losses. This temperature corresponds to the post-shock temperature calculated for bulk rocks shocked at about 40 GPa. From our investigation, data survey, and modeling, we conclude that the shock event during launch of the meteorites is the principal cause for 4He loss.

A series of experiments carried out by Koscheev et al. (1998, 2001, 2004, 2005) showed that the bimodal release of heavy noble gases from meteoritic nanodiamonds can be reproduced by a single implanted component. This paper investigates the implications of this result for interpreting the noble gas compositions of meteoritic nanodiamonds and for their origin and history. If the bimodal release exhibited by meteorite diamonds reflects release of the P3 noble gas component, then the composition inferred for the pure Xe-HL end member changes slightly, the excesses of heavy krypton isotopes that define Kr-H become less extreme, evidence appears for a Kr-L component, and the nucleosynthetic contribution to argon becomes much smaller. After correction for cosmogenic neon inherited from the host meteorites, the neon in presolar diamonds shows evidence for pre-irradiation, perhaps in interstellar space, and a nucleosynthetic component perhaps consistent with a supernova source. After a similar correction, helium also shows evidence for presolar irradiation and/or a nucleosynthetic component. For the case of presolar irradiation, due to the small size of the diamonds, a large entity must have been irradiated and recoiling product nuclei collected by the nanodiamonds. The high 3He/21Ne ratio (~43) calls for a target with a (C + O)/heavier-element ratio higher than in chondritic abundances. Bulk gas + dust (cosmic abundances) meet this criteria, as would solids enriched in carbonaceous material. The long recoil range of cosmogenic 3He argues against a specific phase. The excess 3He in presolar diamonds may represent trapped cosmic rays rather than cosmogenic 3He produced in the vicinity of the diamond crystals.

Alteration of surficial suevites at Ries crater, Germany was studied by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Here, we discuss the origin of hydrous silicate (clay) phases in these suevites that have been previously interpreted as resulting from post-impact hydrothermal processes. The results of this study indicate that the dominant alteration phases are dioctahedral Al-Fe montmorillonite and halloysite, which are typical low temperature clay minerals. We suggest that the surficial suevites are not altered by hydrothermal processes and that alteration occurred by low temperature subsurface weathering processes. If the surficial suevites were indeed hydrothermally modified during the early stages of post-impact cooling, then the alteration was of limited character and is completely masked by later weathering.

Meteorite impacts are associated with locally profound effects for microorganisms living at the terrestrial surface and the subsurface of the impact zone. The Bosumtwi crater in Ghana (West Africa) is a relatively young (1.07 Myr) structure with a rim-to-rim diameter of about 10.5 km. In a preliminary study targeting the subsurface microbial life in the impact structure, seven samples of the impact breccia from the central uplift of the Bosumtwi crater were analyzed for the presence of typical archaeal membrane-lipids (GDGTs). These have been detected in four of the samples, at a maximum depth of 382 m below the lake surface, which is equivalent to 309 m below the surface sediment. The concentration of the GDGTs does not show a trend with depth, and their distribution is dominated by GDGT-0. Possible origins of these lipids could be related to the soils or rocks predating the impact event, the hydrothermal system generated after the impact, or due to more recent underground water transport.

Harvey Nininger successfully petitioned the American Astronomical Society to pass a motion in support of nationalizing Meteor Crater, Arizona, at its June 1948 meeting. He alleged that the Barringer family, who held title to the crater, was depriving American citizens of its scenic beauty and scientific value. He then reportedly went on to make the unauthorized--and false--claim that the family would be receptive to a fair purchase offer for the crater. The Barringers, who had not been given advance warning of the petition and were not present at the meeting, felt ambushed. They quickly and forcefully rebutted Niningers allegations, made it clear they had no intention of relinquishing their title to the crater, and terminated his exploration rights. What led Nininger to such a curious and self-defeating act? Based on our reading of his voluminous personal correspondence, we conclude that it was rooted primarily in his complex relationship with Frederick Leonard and Lincoln LaPaz, and his desire to establish a national institute for meteoritical research--with them, originally, but after a serious falling out, on his own. Prevented from moving his American Meteorite Museum to the crater rim, Nininger wondered what would happen if the crater was nationalized and made into a public park, with an accompanying tourist center and museum. With characteristic lan, he could picture himself at its head, with a secure salary and adequate space to exhibit his meteorite collection.

We used synchrotron X-ray microtomography to image in 3-dimensions (3D) eight whole chondrules in a ~1 cm^3 piece of the Renazzo (CR) chondrite at ~17 micrometers per volume element (voxel) edge. We report the first volumetric (3D) measurement of metal/silicate ratios in chondrules and quantify indices of chondrule sphericity. Volumetric metal abundances in whole chondrules range from 1 to 37 volume % in 8 measured chondrules and by inspection in tomography data. We show that metal abundances and metal grain locations in individual chondrules cannot be reliably obtained from single random 2D sections. Samples were physically cut to intersect representative chondrules multiple times and to verify 3D data. Detailed 2D chemical analysis combined with 3D data yield highly variable whole-chondrule Mg/Si ratios with a supra-chondritic mean value, yet the chemically diverse, independently formed chondrules are mutually complementary in preserving chondritic (solar) Fe/Si ratios in the aggregate CR chondrite. These results are consistent with localized chondrule formation and rapid accretion resulting in chondrule + matrix aggregates (meteorite parent bodies) that preserve the bulk chondritic composition of source regions.

The Offset Dikes of the 1.85 Ga Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) constitute a key topic in understanding the chemical evolution of the impact melt, its mineralization, and the interplay between melt migration and impact-induced deformation. The origin of the melt rocks in Offset Dikes as well as mode and timing of their emplacement are still a matter of debate. Like many other offset dikes, the Worthington is composed of an early emplaced texturally rather homogeneous quartz-diorite (QD) phase at the dike margin, and an inclusion- and sulfide-rich quartz-diorite (IQD) phase emplaced later and mostly in the centre of the dike. The chemical heterogeneity within and between QD and IQD is mainly attributed to variable assimilation of host rocks at the base of the SIC, prior to emplacement of the melt into the dike. Petrological data suggest that the parental magma of the Worthington Dike mainly developed during the pre-liquidus temperature interval of the thermal evolution of the impact melt sheet (>1200 degrees C). Based on thermal models of the cooling history of the SIC, the two-stage emplacement of the Worthington Dike occurred likely thousands to about ten thousand years after impact. Structural analysis indicates that an alignment of minerals and host rock fragments within the Worthington Dike was caused by ductile deformation under greenschist-facies metamorphic conditions rather than flow during melt emplacement. It is concluded that the Worthington Offset Dike resulted from crater floor fracturing, possibly driven by late-stage isostatic readjustment of crust underlying the impact structure.

We report electron microprobe determinations of the elemental compositions of 11 Australasian layered tektites and 28 Australasian microtektites; and ion microprobe determinations of the 41K/39K ratios of all 11 tektites and 13 of the microtektites. The elemental compositions agree well with literature values, although the average potassium concentrations measured here for microtektites, 1.1-1.6 wt%, are lower than published average values, 1.9-2.9 wt%. The potassium isotope abundances of the Australasian layered tektites vary little. The average value of delta-41K, 0.02 +/- 0.12 per mil (1-sigma mean), is indistinguishable from the terrestrial value (= 0 by definition) as represented by our standard, thereby confirming four earlier tektite analyses of Humayun and Koeberl (2004). In agreement with those authors, we conclude that evaporation has significantly altered neither the isotopic nor the elemental composition of Australasian layered tektites for elements less volatile than potassium. Although the average 41K/39K ratio of the microtektites, 1.1 +/- 1.7 per mil (1-sigma mean), is also statistically indistinguishable from the value for the standard, the individual ratios vary over a very large range, from -10.6 +/- 1.4 per mil to +13.8 +/- 1.5 per mil and at least three of them are significantly different from zero. We interpret these larger variations in terms of the evaporation of isotopically light potassium; condensation of potassium in the vapor plume; partial or complete stirring and quenching of the melts; and the possible uptake of potassium from seawater. That the average 41K/39K ratio of the microtektites equals the terrestrial value suggests that the microtektite-forming system was compositionally closed with respect to potassium and less volatile elements. The possibility remains open that 41K/39K ratios of microtektites vary systematically with location in the strewn field.