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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1998; v. 140; p. 205-216;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.140.01.15
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Craters and Impactites

Geochemistry of carbon in terrestrial impact processes

Iain Gilmour

Planetary Sciences Research Institute, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK

Terrestrial impact craters appear to be unique in the geological environment in that they contain evidence for the presence of all four carbon allotropes: graphite, diamond, C60 and carbynes. This diversity appears to reflect the wide range of physical and chemical conditions that occur during impact processes including shock-induced alterations and vapour-phase chemistry. Impact-produced diamonds are known from several impact craters around the world, and their ability to survive over immense periods of geological time makes the presence of diamonds an important criterion for the identification of terrestrial impact structures.