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The Tissint Martian meteorite as evidence for the largest impact excavation

Author

Listed:
  • Ioannis P. Baziotis

    (Planetary Geosciences Institute, University of Tennessee)

  • Yang Liu

    (Planetary Geosciences Institute, University of Tennessee
    Poulter Laboratory, SRI International)

  • Paul S. DeCarli

    (Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University)

  • H. Jay Melosh

    (Virginia Tech)

  • Harry Y. McSween

    (Planetary Geosciences Institute, University of Tennessee)

  • Robert J. Bodnar

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)

  • Lawrence A. Taylor

    (Planetary Geosciences Institute, University of Tennessee)

Abstract

High-pressure minerals in meteorites provide clues for the impact processes that excavated, launched and delivered these samples to Earth. Most Martian meteorites are suggested to have been excavated from 3 to 7 km diameter impact craters. Here we show that the Tissint meteorite, a 2011 meteorite fall, contains virtually all the high-pressure phases (seven minerals and two mineral glasses) that have been reported in isolated occurrences in other Martian meteorites. Particularly, one ringwoodite (75 × 140 μm2) represents the largest grain observed in all Martian samples. Collectively, the ubiquitous high-pressure minerals of unusually large sizes in Tissint indicate that shock metamorphism was widely dispersed in this sample (~25 GPa and ~2,000 °C). Using the size and growth kinetics of the ringwoodite grains, we infer an initial impact crater with ~90 km diameter, with a factor of 2 uncertainty. These energetic conditions imply alteration of any possible low-T minerals in Tissint.

Suggested Citation

  • Ioannis P. Baziotis & Yang Liu & Paul S. DeCarli & H. Jay Melosh & Harry Y. McSween & Robert J. Bodnar & Lawrence A. Taylor, 2013. "The Tissint Martian meteorite as evidence for the largest impact excavation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2414
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2414
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