No abstract

We have investigated the magnetic state of iron in siderite FeCO3 under high pressure using Kβ x-ray emission spectroscopy. Pressure induced changes in the shape of the iron Kβ emission lines indicate that the iron ground state changes from a low pressure magnetic state to a high pressure non-magnetic state. This transition takes place roughly at 50 GPa. This conclusion is supported by charge transfer multiplet calculations of the iron Kβ emission line.

Although the meteorite impact origin of the Keurusselka¨impact structure (central Finland) has been established on the basis of the occurrence of shatter cones, no detailed microscopic examination of the impactites from this structure has so far been made. Previous microscope investigations of in situ rocks did not yield any firm evidence of shock features Kinnunen and Hietala 2009). We have carried out microscopic observations on petrographic thin sections from seven in situ shatter cone samples and report here the discovery of planar fractures (PFs) and planar deformation features (PDFs) in quartz and feldspar grains. The detection and characterization of microscopic shock metamorphic features in the investigated samples substantiates a meteorite impact origin for the Keurusselka¨structure. The crystallographic orientations of 372 PDF sets in 276 quartz grains were measured, using a universal stage (U-stage) microscope, for five of the seven distinct shatter cone samples. Based on our U-stage results, we estimate that investigated shatter cone samples from the Keurusselka¨structure have experienced peak shock pressures from approximately 2 GPa to slightly less than 20 GPa for the more heavily shocked samples. The decoration of most of the PDFs with fluid inclusions also indicates that these originally amorphous shock features were altered by postimpact processes. Finally, our field observations indicate that the exposed surface corresponds to the crater floor; it is, however, difficult to estimate the exact diameter of the structure and the precise amount of material that has been eroded since its formation.