Distinguishing shocked from tectonically deformed quartz by the use of the SEM and chemical etching
Earth and Planetary Science Letters
By: A.J. Gratz, D.K. Fisler, and B.F. Bohor
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Abstract
Multiple sets of crystallographically-oriented planar deformation features (PDFs) are generated by high-strain-rate shock waves at pressures of > 12 GPa in naturally shocked quartz samples. On surfaces, PDFs appear as narrow (50-500 nm) lamellae filled with amorphosed quartz (diaplectic glass) which can be etched with hydrofluoric acid or with hydrothermal alkaline solutions. In contrast, slow-strain-rate tectonic deformation pressure produces wider, semi-linear and widely spaced arrays of dislocation loops that are not glass filled. Etching samples with HF before examination in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) allows for unambiguous visual distinction between glass-filled PDFs and glass-free tectonic deformation arrays in quartz. This etching also reveals the internal 'pillaring' often characteristic of shock-induced PDFs. This technique is useful for easily distinguishing between shock and tectonic deformation in quartz, but does not replace optical techniques for characterizing the shock features.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Distinguishing shocked from tectonically deformed quartz by the use of the SEM and chemical etching |
| Series title | Earth and Planetary Science Letters |
| DOI | 10.1016/0012-821X(96)00099-4 |
| Volume | 142 |
| Issue | 3-4 |
| Year Published | 1996 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Description | 9 p. |
| First page | 513 |
| Last page | 521 |
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