Cluster type of silicate vaporization: Newly obtained experimental data

Abstract

Impact cratering is usually associated with the partial or complete vaporization of the high-temperature impact melts. According to its chemical characteristics, the vaporization of major oxides, silicate minerals, and rock melts can be classified into the following four types: (1) congruent vaporization without decomposition of the compound in the vapor phase, (2) congruent vaporization with the decomposition of the compound in the vapor phase, (3) incongruent vaporization, and (4) cluster vaporization. The latter type of vaporization pertains to the transfer of material into vapor phase in the form of complicated atomicmolecular groups (clusters) of certain stoichiometry. Cluster vaporization takes place at superhigh temperatures typical of impact processes. The clusters can comprise compounds of different individual volatility, and this often results in the enrichment of the vapor phase in elements traditionally thought to be refractory. Examples of cluster vaporization are offered by lately obtained experimental results on laser-pulse vaporization of larnite, merwinite, and wollastonite. Condensed vapor generated at the vaporization of orthosilicates (larnite and merwinite) was proved to be dominated by chain bonds of Si-O tetrahedrons and to contain molecular groups of wollastonite and pseudowollastonite stoichiometry.