Immiscibility features between silica-rich and carbonate-rich material in breccia from the Sierra Madera impact structure.
EMSL Project ID
24098
Abstract
he Sierra Madera impact structure located in west Texas is a 12 km diameter, well-exposed, eroded remnant of a complex impact crater hosted in carbonate and siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. Studying impact cratering events in carbonate rocks is a unique way for scientists to potentially learn how the Earth responds to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. During the impact event, large amounts of carbon dioxide can be quickly released into the atmosphere as the carbonate target rock volatilizes. Therefore, the identification of deformational (i.e. melt or immiscibility) features in carbonate rocks from naturally formed carbonate-rich impact craters can fill in the gaps of our understanding pressure-temperature conditions during an impact event and how these events can potentially affect the Earth.We propose to examine impact generated breccias from Sierra Madera applying modern research techniques and facilities provided by the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory (EMSL) of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to look for and identify possible melt products.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2007-05-31
End Date
2009-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members