Glass-like Carbon in the Nalbach/Saarlouis (Saarland, Germany) Proposed Touchdown Airburst Impact Event: Evidence of Shock Metamorphism of Organic Material

The Nalbach/Saarlouis (Saarland, Germany) meteorite impact strewn field has been established by two impact craters and larger clusters of smaller craters. Intense impact liquefaction features, widespread impact signature of strong shock metamorphism, impact melt rocks, impact glasses, polymictic breccias, breccia generations and shatter cones provide further evidence of impact events. The origin of pumice-like black foamy carbon-rich rocks found in this strewn field was investigated using SEM, EDS, XRD, and 14 C analysis. Results of earlier investigations of the same type of pure carbon rocks in the Chiemgau impact crater strewn field and the now discovered Czech impact strewn fields revealed them as a foamy glass-like carbon modifications. For the first time, evidence about its origin from carbonized spruce wood could be demonstrated by discovering cellular micro-structures in incompletely molten parts of these rocks. Radiocarbon data analyses of the rocks disprove actual organic ages and suggest impact-modified 14 C. Confusion with human-made artifacts can be excluded.