Dr. Axel Wittmann

Visiting Scientist
E-mail:wittmann@lpi.usra.edu

My research concentrates on impact melts and impact breccias as recorders of hyper-velocity collisional events on terrestrial planets. In addition to physical boundary conditions for the formation processes such as pressures, temperatures and time scales, these rocks can be used to date their formation and may contain the chemical fingerprints of the impacting projectiles. This information can further resolve the collisional history of the inner solar system, including the likelihood of a lunar cataclysm about 4 billion years ago. The research is focused terrestrial impact structures, e.g., Chicxulub, Chesapeake Bay, the Ries and El’gygtgyn, and ordinary chondritic, HED and lunar meteorites.

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Last updated
February 16, 2012