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Fused rock from Köfels, Tyrol

January 1, 1964

The vesicular glass from Köfels, Tyrol, contains grains of quartz that have been partially melted but not dissolved in the matrix glass. This phenomenon has been observed in similar glasses formed by friction along a thrust fault and by meteorite impact, but not in volcanic glasses. The explosion of a small nuclear device buried behind a steep slope produced a geologic structure that is a good small-scale model of that at Köfels. Impact of a large meteorite would have an effect analogous to that of a subsurface nuclear explosion and is the probable cause of the Köfels feature.

Publication Year 1964
Title Fused rock from Köfels, Tyrol
DOI 10.1007/BF01127777
Authors Daniel J. Milton
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen
Index ID 70010550
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse