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Geochemical characterization of impact glasses from the Zhamanshin crater by various modes of activation analysis. Remarks on genesis of irghizites

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Abstract

A large set of impact glasses from the Zhamanshin crater in Kazakhstan was analyzed by various modes of instrumental neutron activation analysis, supplemented by instrumental photon activation analysis and prompt gamma-ray activation analysis. Results of the determination of more than forty major and trace elements have shown that the analyzed set of homogeneous, tektite-like impact glasses with size of several centimeters and of various forms could be divided into two geochemically different groups. The lustrous, silica rich (acidic) glasses with high Ni content have been classified conventionally as irghizites. The dull, silica poor (basic) glasses with very low Ni content should not be confused with the large, heterogeneous impactite forms—zhamanshinites, but considered as a separate type of impact glass. Within both primary groups, further division has been suggested based on lower contents of Ni in an irghizite subgroup, and evidence of mixing of source materials for both primary groups in a part of the basic glasses. Based on the contents of Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co, an ordinary chondrite impactor has been suggested with its contribution to the irghizite matter ranging between 4 and 21%. Possible source materials and impact processes leading to irghizite formation have been outlined.

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Acknowledgments

The study has been supported by the grant GA205/09/0991 of the Czech Science Foundation. Authors are grateful to I. Větvička and the late Prof. E. Izokh for providing the Zhamanshin glass samples for analysis. They also thank Prof. E. Jelínek for his valuable comments in the geochemical interpretation of the analytical data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Physics Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Řež 130, 25068, Řež, Czech Republic

    J. Mizera, Z. Řanda & I. Tomandl

  2. Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, V Holešovičkách 41, 182 09, Praha 8, Czech Republic

    J. Mizera

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  1. J. Mizera
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  2. Z. Řanda
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  3. I. Tomandl
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Correspondence to J. Mizera.

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Mizera, J., Řanda, Z. & Tomandl, I. Geochemical characterization of impact glasses from the Zhamanshin crater by various modes of activation analysis. Remarks on genesis of irghizites. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 293, 359–376 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1673-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1673-6

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