Erickson, Timmons
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Publication Post-erosional preservation of the impact record: Tracing shocked detritus from the Vredefort Dome, South Africa(2012) Erickson, Timmons; Cavosie, Aaron J.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Chizmadia, Lysa; Santos Mercado, Hernán; Department of Geology; Portela Gauthier, GenockImpact cratering has been recognized as an important geologic process, however, the record of impacts on Earth is minimal due to erosion, burial and tectonic modification. A diagnostic criterion used as definitive evidence of a meteorite impacts is shock metamorphosed minerals in the target rocks. Therefore detrital shocked minerals, eroded from impact basins have the potential to extend the impact record through geologic time. To assess the longevity of shocked minerals within cratonic fluvial environments I collected sediment samples from throughout the Orange River drainage basin, in southern Africa, to search for shocked detritus from the Vrededfort Dome. The Vredefort Dome impact structure is crosscut by the Vaal River, the largest tributary of the Orange River. Petrographic, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and ion microprobe analysis of these samples has identified shocked detritus at least 759 km downriver from the Vredefort Dome and given unique insight into detrital shocked minerals.