Debye-Scherrer investigations of experimentally shocked silicates.

Small ballistic ranges were used to perform controlled laboratory shock experiments on 12 selected silicates. Debye-Scherrer investigations of shocked materials revealed a gradual lattice breakdown of crystalline matter under shock. Individual mineral species behave selectively. Sheet silicates break down very easily, followed by tecto-silicates. Chain-, ino- and ortho-silicates are of considerably higher shock resistance. Depending on the mineral species, the first sign of shock damage is evidenced in the long range order at 20-70 kb. At intermediate pressures (100-200 kb) the long range order is essentially destroyed with the short range order heavily disturbed. At pressures exceeding 300 kb tecto-silicates are completely collapsed.