Baddeleyite and its significance in impact glasses

Abstract

Microscopic and X-ray investigations of zircon grains in some impact glasses revealed that zircon tends to decompose into baddeleyite and silica owing to impact. Zircon grains in Ries glasses are only partially decomposed, whereas in Aouelloul crater glasses the breakdown is more complete. The presence of baddeleyite in impact glasses is indicative of a very high temperature fusion of the original rocks containing zircon.