Reidite
A variety of Minerals
What is Reidite?
Reidite is a very rare mineral created when zircon undergoes high pressure and temperatures. It is commonly associated with meteorite impacts. On Earth, reidite has been found only in eight crater impacts: the Chesapeake Bay Crater in Virginia; Ries Crater in Germany; Xiuyan Crater in China; Woodleigh Crater in Western Australia; Rock Elm Crater in Wisconsin; and Dhala Crater in India, Pantasma crater in Nicaragua and Lake Mien in Tingsryd Sweden, impact 120 M years ago,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mien_(lake). In 2015 an occurrence of reidite was reported from the Precambrian Stac Fada Member structure in North West Scotland, further supporting its impact origin. Libyan desert glass may show lattice deformation in zircon that is interpreted as evidence of this material having previously contained reidite, and as such constitutes strong evidence for its impact origin.
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Key Characteristics
Formation of Reidite
Zircon morphs into reidite when shock waves from meteorite impacts hike up pressures and temperatures to extreme levels, equal to those deep inside the Earth where diamonds form. The pressure makes minerals tightly repack their molecules into denser crystal structures. Reidite has the same composition as regular zircon but is about 10 percent denser.
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Colourless
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 7.5
- Density
- 5.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- white
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- ZrSiO4
- Elements
- O, Si, Zr
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