Abstract:

Shock metamorphism of 47 H-Chondrites from Grove Mountains(GRV), Antarctica, were studied. Silicate and opaque minerals were observed under optical microscope for shock metamorphism features, such as undulatory extinction, planar fractures, mosaic extinction, shock-induced melting, and metal-sulfide dendritic eutectic. Shock-induced regions of 10 H-Chondrites were observed. Wadsleyite was found in GRV022469. Petrologic and mineralogical characteristics support that wadsleyite was formed by solid-state transformation. Based on shock effects, especially low-pressure phase mineral components and chemical characteristic, shock metamorphism stage of H-Chondrites is relatively low (lower than the S5). Shock-induced melt veins are thinner compared to those in L-Chondrites.

Key words: Shock History