Survival of fossilised diatoms and forams in hypervelocity impacts with peak shock pressures in the 1–19 GPa range

Burchell, M. J.; Harriss, Kathryn; Price, M. C.; Yolland, L. J.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2017.02.028

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…, above that for tardigrade survival. Separately, the peak shock pressures for terrestrial material impacting the Moon have been calculated for a range of possible impactor and lunar surface material combinations, and shock pressures were found to be in the range of 2–5 GPa (Burchell et al, 2017 ), which is consistent with those of Armstrong ( 2010 ), who pointed out, nonetheless, that 43% of impacts of terrestrial ejecta onto the lunar surface would be at speeds below 1 km s −1 . Indeed, 29% of such impacts have a vertical impact speed of less than 0.5 km s −1 , and 10% at less than 0.1 km s −1 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

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Tardigrade Survival Limits in High-Speed Impacts—Implications for Panspermia and Collection of Samples from Plumes Emitted by Ice Worlds

Traspas

Burchell

2021

Astrobiology

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The ability of tardigrades to survive impact shocks in the kilometer per second and gigapascal range was investigated. When rocks impact planetary surfaces, the impact speeds and shock pressures are in the kilometer per second and gigapascal range. This investigation tested whether tardigrades can survive in impacts typical of those that occur naturally in the Solar System. We found that they can survive impacts up to 0.9 km s -1 , which is equivalent to 1.14 GPa shock pressure, but cannot survive impacts above this. This is significantly less than the static pressure limit and has implications for tardigrade survival in panspermia models. The potential survival of tardigrades in impacts of terrestrial impact ejecta on the Moon is shown to be impossible for the average lunar impact speed of such ejecta. However, a notable fraction (around 40%) of such ejecta impact at vertical speeds low enough to permit survival. Similarly, martian impact ejecta striking Phobos, for example, at a typical impact speed will not permit viable transfer of tardigrade-like organisms, but if a fraction of such material had a lower impact speed, survival may be possible. We also consider the implications of this for the collection of viable samples by spacecraft transiting the plumes of icy water worlds such as Europa and Enceladus. We have found the limit on survival of shocks to be around 1 GPa, which is instrumental in determining appropriate mission scenarios and collection methods for the acquisition of viable materials.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…It has long been proposed that ejecta (and fossilized material within) from giant impacts on Earth could have struck the Moon and become preserved (Armstrong et al ., 2002 ; Armstrong, 2010 ; Burchell et al ., 2014 , 2017 ). Armstrong ( 2010 ) determined an average lunar impact speed for terrestrial ejecta of some 2.5 km s −1 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tardigrade Survival Limits in High-Speed Impacts—Implications for Panspermia and Collection of Samples from Plumes Emitted by Ice Worlds

Traspas

Burchell

2021

Astrobiology

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“…An experimental confirmation of the survival of biogenic material during impact was published by Burchell et al. (, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…These data have shown that organic materials can survive capture and transportation by impact melt at impact processes. An experimental confirmation of the survival of biogenic material during impact was published by Burchell et al (2014Burchell et al ( , 2017.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Remnants of paleoflora in impact melt rocks of the El'gygytgyn crater (Chukotka, Russia)

Gurov

Permiakov

Koeberl

2019

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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Remnants of paleoflora were discovered in impact melt rocks from the El'gygytgyn crater, Chukotka, Russia. El'gygytgyn is a 3.58 Ma, 18 km diameter impact structure in Chukotka, northeastern Russia. A circular crater basin is surrounded by an uplifted rim. The crater floor is occupied by the El'gygytgyn Lake, 12 km in diameter, surrounded by lacustrine terraces up to 80 m in height. Impactites found at the El'gygytgyn crater include impact melt rocks, glass bombs, and shock metamorphosed volcanic rocks. Most impact melt rocks occur only in redeposited state in the terrace lake deposits. Floral remnants were discovered in impact melt rocks from various locations in the terrace deposits. The floral remnants include fragments of leaves, cell tissue, and undetermined organic matter that occur in vesicles within glassy melt rocks and impact melt breccias. After the discovery of floral remnants in impact melt breccias from upper Miocene strata in Argentina, and the description of floral imprints in the Dakhleh Glass of proposed impact origin in Egypt, the detection of paleoflora remnants in impact melt rocks of the El'gygytgyn structure is the first such occurrence in a confirmed impact crater on Earth.

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“…If these were carried in frozen droplets in the plumes of an IOW, we can ask if they would be detectable after an impact on a passing spacecraft. This has been considered experimentally for diatoms and foraminifera (see Burchell, McDermott, et al., 2014; Burchell et al., 2017). It was found that, when embedded in ice projectiles (and the foraminifera were also suspended in water during shots), recognizable fossilized diatom and foraminifer structures survived in impacts at speeds up to 6 km s −1 (pressures of 20 GPa).…”

Section: Impact Shock‐induced Changes To Impactorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Icy ocean worlds, plumes, and tasting the water

Burchell,

Wozniakiewicz

2024

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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This paper considers how space missions that fly through the plumes known, or suspected, to erupt naturally from some icy ocean worlds (IOW), such as Enceladus, or that aim to intercept icy ejecta from impact cratering processes on such bodies can sample the water and ice within the plumes. The mechanics of how grains (either in the plumes or the ejecta) would interact with a passing spacecraft (i.e., impact speeds, shock pressures, etc.) are introduced. The impact speeds are estimated and vary with both the mass of the IOW and the orbital parameters of a space mission. This can lead to large differences in impact speeds (and hence collection methods) at bodies such as Enceladus and Europa. The implications of these different impact speeds (a few hundred m s−1 to several km s−1, and even greater than 10 km s−1) for the collection of organic materials from the plumes are shown to be significant.

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Survival of fossilised diatoms and forams in hypervelocity impacts with peak shock pressures in the 1–19 GPa range

Abstract: The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record.

Cited by 9 publications

References 30 publications

Tardigrade Survival Limits in High-Speed Impacts—Implications for Panspermia and Collection of Samples from Plumes Emitted by Ice Worlds

Tardigrade Survival Limits in High-Speed Impacts—Implications for Panspermia and Collection of Samples from Plumes Emitted by Ice Worlds

Remnants of paleoflora in impact melt rocks of the El'gygytgyn crater (Chukotka, Russia)

Icy ocean worlds, plumes, and tasting the water

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