Post date: Oct 14, 2010 8:15:57 AM
Title: Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Impact Cratering
Conveners: Fred Jourdan, Uwe Reimold, Christian Koeberl, Alex Deutsch, Martin Schmieder.
Impact processes are fundamental to the formation and evolution of the solar system. In the inner solar system, impacts have largely contributed to shape planetary surfaces. On Earth, asteroid impacts have played a critical role during Earth history, by delivering the primary constituents of our planet, being responsible for the formation of major ore deposits, and having affected life on Earth. Studying impacts and their effects is a very active field at the crossroads of many scientific disciplines, including planetary science, field geology, mineralogy, material science, and geochemistry. This session is focused on all aspects of study of terrestrial and extraterrestrial (asteroids, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, et al.) impact structures. We invite new contributions dealing with all aspects of impact cratering, such as the physics behind impact crater formation, shock metamorphism, the geochemistry of impact melt rocks and impactors, the formation of tektites and their relevance to the impact record, the age and geochronology of impacts, and the environmental effects of impacts and associated controversies. Presentation of new technological advancements and recent impact crater drilling projects are also welcome.