Shock metamorphism of the Dhofar 378 Martian meteorite

Abstract

We performed mineralogical study of feldspathic phases in the Dhofar 378 Martian meteorite and found that Dhofar 378 contained recrystallizing fibrous plagioclase and K-rich feldspathic glass. We also performed heating experiment of the Zagami maskelynite at 900-1100 deg. C and found that heating at 1000 deg. C for 1-24 hours produced a similar plagioclase texture to Dhofar 378. This result combined with the crystallization experiment of Dhofar 378 suggests that Dhofar 378 was heated at up to 1000 deg. C and subsequently cooled at about 2.5 deg. C/hour after the shock.