Mid-infrared bi-directional reflectance spectroscopy of impact melt glasses and tektites

TL;DR

This study provides mid-infrared spectra of impact melt glasses and tektites, revealing their amorphous nature and compositional features, aiding remote sensing identification on planetary surfaces.

Contribution

First comprehensive mid-infrared spectral dataset of impact glasses and tektites across size fractions, aiding planetary remote sensing and compositional analysis.

Findings

Impact glasses are predominantly amorphous with characteristic Christiansen Features.

Felsic and mafic glasses form distinct spectral groups.

Water features are weaker in tektites and some impact glasses.

Abstract

We have analyzed 14 impact melt glass samples, covering the compositional range from highly felsic to mafic/basaltic, as part of our effort to provide mid-infrared spectra (7-14 micron) for MERTIS (Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer), an instrument onboard of the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission. Since Mercury was exposed to many impacts in its history, and impact glasses are also common on other bodies, powders of tektites (Irghizite, Libyan Desert Glass, Moldavite, Muong Nong, Thailandite) and impact glasses (from the Dellen, El'gygytgyn, Lonar, Mien, Mistastin, and Popigai impact structures) were analyzed in four size fractions of (0-25, 25-63, 93-125 and 125-250 micron) from 2.5 to 19 micron in bi-directional reflectance. The characteristic Christiansen Feature (CF) is identified between 7.3 micron (Libyan Desert Glass) and 8.2 micron (Dellen). Most samples show mid-infrared spectra typical of highly amorphous material, dominated by a strong Reststrahlen Band (RB) between 8.9 micron (Libyan Desert Glass) and 10.3 micron (Dellen). Even substantial amounts of mineral fragments hardly affect this general band shape. Comparisons of the SiO2 content representing the felsic/mafic composition of the samples with the CF shows felsic/intermediate glass and tektites forming a big group, and comparatively mafic samples a second one. An additional sign of a highly amorphous state is the lack of features at wavelengths longer than about 15 micron. The tektites and two impact glasses, Irghizite and El'gygytgyn respectively, have much weaker water features than most of the other impact glasses.