Condensate in Impact Glass Samples from the Lonar Crater, India

Abstract

Polycomponent condensate glasses found in nature provide an insight into condensation mechanisms, which are still understood inadequately poorly. Condensate glasses found in the impactites of the Lonar crater contain nanosized inclusions of metallic Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ag, In, Te, Au, Pt, and Bi, along with Fe, Cu, and Zn sulfides. This combination may be indicative either of a brief condensation window for the almost simultaneous condensation of components with so different fugacity or of a possible mechanism of cluster condensation, provided that the condensation temperatures of such clusters are close.