Shock wave properties of anorthosite and gabbro

Abstract

Shock wave experiments have been conducted on San Gabriel anorthosite and San Marcos gabbro to peak stresses between 5 and 11 GPa using a 40-mm-bore propellant gun. Particle velocity wave profiles were measured directly at several points in each target by means of electromagnetic gauges, and Hugoniot states were calculated by determining shock transit times from the gauge records. The particle velocity profiles yielded sound velocities along the release adiabats which indicate a retention of shear strength upon shock compression for anorthosite, with a loss of strength upon release to nearly zero stress. Sound velocities of anorthosite shocked to peak stresses between 6 and 10 GPa were measured to be between 5.1 and 5.3 km/s upon release to nearly zero stress as compared to ∼6.9 and 5.4 km/s for the expected longitudinal and bulk wave speeds. Stress density release paths in the anorthosite indicate possible transformation of albite to Jadeite + (quartz or coesite), with the amount of albite transformed ranging from as low as 0.05 to as much as 0.19 mass fraction in the 6–10 GPa shock stress range. Electrical interference effects precluded the determination of accurate release paths for San Marcos gabbro. Because of the apparent loss of shear strength during unloading from the shocked state, the fluidlike rheology of anorthosite which is indicated implies that calculations of energy partitioning due to impact onto planetary surfaces based on elastic-plastic models will underestimate the amount of internal energy deposited in the impacted surface material.

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