Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Supervisor
Dr. Gordon Osinski
Second Advisor
Dr. Neil Banerjee
Abstract
From over 60 terrestrial impact craters with evidence of impact-induced hydrothermal
alteration, only a dozen have been examined for stable isotopic compositions of
hydrothermal carbonates. A variety of impact-induced carbonate precipitates have been
identified at the Haughton impact structure (23 km, 39 Ma) on Devon Island, Canadian
Arctic. The hydrothermal carbonates are found in three distinct settings: (1) as fracture
fillings in shocked lithologies of the inner crater; (3) as vug fillings within impact melt
breccias, and (3) as interstice fillings in pipe structures of the crater rim. X-Ray Powder
Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence and carbon and oxygen stable isotope analyses were
performed on rock and calcite mineralisation samples. Values of ô13Ccaicite range from
-14 to -2%o, indicating an inorganic carbon source. Values of 6 Ocaicite range from
1o
+8 to +18 %o, corresponding to a 5 OflUid of -7 to +2%o, most likely an enriched polar meteoric source at temperatures of mineralisation >130°C.
Recommended Citation
Auclair, Simon, "STABLE CARBON AND OXYGEN ISOTOPIC STUDY OF IMPACT-INDUCED HYDROTHERMAL CALCITE AT THE HAUGHTON IMPACT STRUCTURE, DEVON ISLAND, NUNAVUT, CANADA" (2011). Digitized Theses. 3534.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3534