HENBURY IMPACTITES

Abstract

Among the different types of ejecta at the Henbury craters, no low-shock, lithic breccias were observed like those found at large complex impact craters, e.g. the Ries structure in Germany (Osinski et al. 2011). There is, however, one piece of evidence found scattered around the main Henbury crater which indicates the enormous pressures and temperature loads which occurred when the large masses impacted: impactite crater glass. Alderman (1932) described it as a “black glassy material greatly resembling the glass of fulgurites”, and he concluded that “there is little doubt that this has been formed by the fusing of the country rock by the enormous heat of impact of the meteorite.”