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Earth Impact
Database

Impact Structure Materials

Regional Planetary Image Facility

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Outreach Program

Related Sites

Research

Meteorites

PASSC News

Missions

The core of PASSC is its research program. Currently we are focussing on research into the following:

1. Impact cratering on Earth (we are actively researching numerous Canadian impact structures).
2. Fragmentation and brecciation processes in planetary materials.
3. Frictional melting processes (including earthquake mechanics).
4. Shock metamorphism and shock melting processes.
5. Martian, lunar and asteroid geology, including meteorite studies.
6. Research and development in subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic impact damage and mitigation technologies.

Current Research Projects Available

PASSC Publications

Our team currently comprises:

Current Graduate students:

	Research	E-mail
Marc Biren	PhD – Tectonics of central uplift formation within the Manicouagan impact structure.	Marc.Biren@unb.ca
Beverley Elliott	MSc – Remote sensing analysis and three-dimensional techniques applied to stratigraphic layers in Valles Marineris, Mars.	bev.elliott@unb.ca
James Hogan	MSc – Simulation of micrometeorite impact using electromagnetic launch technology. (co-supervised with Dr Robert Rogers, Mechanical Engineering).	jhogan81@hotmail.com
Catherine O’Connell–Cooper	PhD – The impact melt sheet of the Manicouagan impact structure: mineralogy, petrology and chemistry.	Catherine.OConnell-Cooper@unb.ca
Sarinya Paisarnsombat	MSc – Thermal effects of the Manicouagan impact melt sheet.	sarinya.p@unb.ca
Tiziana Trabucchi	PhD – Integration of APXS data and imagery for NASA Mars Science Laboratory.	c8yq2@unb.ca

Click here for previous graduate students

PASSC Director:
Dr. John Spray	Planetary materials, frictional melting mechanisms, impact geology, shock metamorphism and melting processes.	jgs@unb.ca
PASSC Data Manager:
	Management of Canada’s NASA-supported Regional Planetary Image Facility, the Earth Impact Database and PASSC website, day-to-day operations of PASSC.	passc@unb.ca
PASSC Research Scientists:
Dr. Suporn Boonsue	Raman Spectroscopy and materials analysis.	sboonsue@unb.ca
Dr. Kirkpong Kiatpanichagij	Image analysis protocols for the European Space Agency ExoMars rover mission Close-Up Imaging (CLUPI) system science team.	kirkkiat@unb.ca
Dr. Lucy Thompson	Impact processes, pseudotachylytes, impact crater geology, Sudbury, Manicouagan, martian geology.	lthompso@unb.ca
PASSC Centre Administrator:
Karen Shea	Financial and administrative duties for centre.	kshea@unb.ca
New Impact Lab:
Aurel Giroux	Project Manager	agiroux@unb.ca
Jeff Locke	Operations Technician/Machinist	jlocke@unb.ca
Adjunct Professors and members of PASSC:
Dr. Richard Grieve	Chief Geoscientist, Earth Sciences Sector, NRC, Ottawa. Impact cratering processes.	rgrieve@nrcan.gc.ca
Dr. Vernon Singhroy	Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa. RADAR applications to terrain analysis.	vern.singhroy@CCRS.NRCan.gc.ca

**Students seeking MSc (2 year duration) and PhD (4 year duration) projects with PASSC, or PDFs seeking potential term research positions (normally 2 years duration), should contact Dr John Spray, Director, PASSC via jgs@unb.ca.

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PASSC Publications

Archived articles that cannot be obtained by normal interlibrary loan requests can be requested from PASSC, by emailing passc@unb.ca or writing to The Data Manager, Planetary and Space Science Centre, Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, 2 Bailey Drive, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada

PUBLISHED JOURNAL PAPERS

PASSC # 1
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Thompson, L.M. and Spray, J.G. 1994. Pseudotachylytic rock distribution in the Sudbury impact structure. Special Publication of the Geological Society of America 293, 75-287.

PASSC # 2
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G. 1995. Pseudotachylyte controversy: Fact or friction? Geology 23, 1119-1122.

PASSC # 3
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G. and Thompson, L.M. 1995. Friction melt distribution in a multi-ring impact basin. Nature 373, 130-132.

PASSC # 4
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G., Kelley, S.P., Reimold, W.U. 1995. Laser probe 40Ar/ 39Ar dating of coesite- and stishovite-bearing psedotachylytes and the age of the Vredefort impact event. Meteoritics 30, 335-343.

PASSC # 5
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Thompson, L.M. and Spray, J.G. 1996. Pseudotachylyte petrogenesis: constraints from the Sudbury impact structure. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 125, 359-374.

PASSC # 6
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Kelley, S.P and Spray, J.G. 1997. A late Triassic age for the Rochechouart impact structure, France. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 32, 629-636.

PASSC # 7
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G. 1997. Superfaults. Geology 25, 579-582.

PASSC # 8
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Gibson, H.M. and Spray, J.G. 1998. Shock-induced melting and vaporization of shatter cone surfaces: evidence from the Sudbury impact Structure. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 33, 329-336.

PASSC # 9
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G. 1998a. Pseudotachylyte type area: Vredefort. Fault Rocks and Fault Mechanisms. In: Snoke, A.W., Tullis, J. and Todd, V.R. (eds), Fault-related rocks: A Photographic Atlas. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA, p.75-79.

PASSC # 10
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G. 1998b. Localized shock- and friction-induced melting in response to hypervelocity impact. In: Grady, M.M., Hutchinson, R., McCall, G.J.H. and Rothery, D.A. (eds), Meteorites: Flux with time and impact effects. Special Publication of the Geological Society of London 140, 195-204.

PASSC # 11
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G., Kelley, S.P. and Rowley, D.R. 1998. Evidence for a late Triassic multiple impact event on Earth. Nature 392, 171-173

PASSC # 12
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Thompson, L.M., Spray, J.G. and Kelley, S.P. 1998. Laser probe 40Ar/ 39Ar dating of pseudotachylyte from the Sudbury Structure: evidence for post-impact thermal overprinting in the North Range. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 33, 1205-1216.

PASSC # 13
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Wood, C.R. and Spray, J.G. 1998. Origin and emplacement of Offset Dykes in the Sudbury impact structure: constraints from Hess. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 33, 337-347.

PASSC # 14
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Scott, R.G. and Spray, J.G. 1999. Magnetic fabric constraints on friction melt flow regimes and ore emplacement direction within the South Range Breccia Belt, Sudbury impact structure. Tectonophysics 307, 163-189.

PASSC # 15
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G. 1999. Shocking rocks by cavitation and bubble implosion. Geology 27, 695-698.

PASSC # 16
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G., Kelley, S.P. and Dence, M.R. 1999. The Strangways impact structure, Northern Territory, Australia: geological setting and 40Ar/ 39Ar laser probe geochronology. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 172, 199-211.

PASSC # 17
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Scott, R.G., Spray, J.G. 2000. The South Range Breccia belt of the Sudbury impact structure: A possible terrace collapse feature. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 35, 505-520.

PASSC # 18
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Whitehead, J., Papanastassiou, D.A., Spray, J.G., Grieve, R.A.F. and Wasserburg, G.J. 2000. Late Eocene impact ejecta: geochemical and isotopic connections with the Popigai impact structure. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 181, 473-487.

PASSC # 19
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R., Spray, J.G. and Lee, P. 2001. Impact-induced hydrothermal activity within the Haughton impact structure, arctic Canada: Generation of a transient, warm, wet oasis. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 36, 731-745.

PASSC # 20
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Marchand, E. and Whitehead, J. 2002. Statistical evaluation of compositional differences between Upper Eocene impact ejecta layers. Mathematical Geology 34, 553-570.

PASSC # 21
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R. and Spray. J.G. 2001. Impact-generated carbonate melts: evidence from the Haughton structure, Canada. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 183, 17-29.

PASSC # 22
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Whitehead, J., Grieve, R.A.F. and Spray, J.G. 2002. Mineralogy and petrology of melt rocks from the Popigai impact structure, Siberia. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 37, 623-648.

PASSC # 23
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Whitehead, J., Spray, J.G. and Grieve, R.A.F. 2002. Origin of "toasted" quartz in terrestrial impact structures. Geology 30, 431-434.

PASSC # 24
Type: Map
Status: Published
Whitehead, J., Spray, J.G. and Grieve, R.A.F. 2002. Geological Map, Popigai impact structure. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 37, #5, loose insert.

PASSC # 25
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Murphy, A. and Spray, J.G. 2002. Geology, mineralization and emplacement of the Whistle-Parkin Offset Dike, Sudbury. Economic Geology 97, 1399-1418.

PASSC # 26
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Tuchscherer, M. and Spray, J.G. 2002. Geology, mineralization and emplacement of the Foy Offset Dike, Sudbury impact structure. Economic Geology 97, 1377-1397.

PASSC # 27
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R. and Spray, J.G. 2002. Evidence for the shock melting of sulfates from the Haughton impact structure, Arctic Canada. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 215, 357-370.

PASSC # 28
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R. 2003. SEM study of impact glasses in fallout suevites from the Ries impact structure, Germany. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 38, 1641-1667.

PASSC # 29
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Walton, E.L. and Spray, J.G. 2003. Mineralogy, petrology and thermal evolution of the Benton LL6 chondrite. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 38, A157-161.

PASSC # 30
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R., Spray, J.G. and Grieve, R.A.F. 2004. The nature of the groundmass of surficial suevite from the Ries impact structure, Germany, and constraints on its origin. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 39, 1655-1683.

PASSC # 31
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Walton, E.L. and Spray, J.G. 2003. Mineralogy, microtextures and composition of shock-induced melt pockets in the Los Angeles basaltic shergottite. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 38, 1865-1875.

PASSC # 32
Type: Paper
Status: In Press
Whitehead, J., Grieve, R.A.F., Garvin, J.B. and Spray, J.G. The effects of crater degradation, superimposition and target differences on the morphometries and morphologies of martian complex craters. Icarus

PASSC # 33
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Van der Bogert, C.H., Schultz, P.H. and Spray, J.G. 2003. Impact-induced frictional melting in ordinary chondrites: a mechanism for deformation, darkening and vein formation. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 38, 1521-1531.

PASSC # 34
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G., Butler, H.R. and Thompson, L.M. 2004. Tectonic influences on the morphometry of the Sudbury impact structure: Implications for terrestrial cratering and modelling. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 39, 387-401.

PASSC # 35
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Beaty, D.W. and 24 others (including Spray, J.G.) 2003. Planning for a Mars in situ sample preparation and distribution (SPAD) system. Planetary and Space Science 52, 55-66

PASSC # 37
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Trepmann, C., Götte, T. and Spray, J.G. 2005. Impact-related Ca-metasomatism in crystalline target rocks from the Charlevoix Structure, Quebec, Canada. Canadian Mineralogist 43, 553-567.

PASSC # 38
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Trepmann, C.A. and Spray, J.G. 2005. Planar microstructures and Dauphiné twinning in shocked quartz from the Charlevoix impact structure, Canada.. Large Meteorite Impacts III. Geological Society of America Special Publication 384, 315-328.

PASSC # 39
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R., Lee, P., Parnell, J., Spray, J.G. and Baron, M. 2005 A case study of impact-induced hydrothermal activity: The Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 40, 1859-1878.

PASSC # 40
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski G.R., Spray, J.G., and Lee P. 2005. Impactites of the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 40, 1789-1812.

PASSC # 41
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R., Lee, P., Spray, J.G., Parnell, J., Lim, D.S.S., Bunch, T.E. and Cockell, C.S. 2005. Geological overview and cratering model of the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 40, 1759-1776.

PASSC # 42
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R. and Spray, J.G. 2005. Tectonics of the Haughton impact event, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 40, 1813-1834.

PASSC # 43
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Walton, E.L., Spray, J.G. and Bartoschewitz, R. 2005. A new martian meteorites from Oman: Mineralogy, petrology and shock metamorphism of olivine-phyric basaltic shergottite Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 150. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 40, 1195-1214.

PASSC # 44
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Spray, J.G. 2005. Evidence for melt lubrication during large earthquakes. Geophysical Research Letters 32, doi:10.1029/2004GL022293.

PASSC# 45
Type: Paper
Status: In Press
Walton, E.L., Shaw, C.J.S., Cogswell, S. and Spray, J.G. 2006. Crystallization rates of shock melts in three martian basalts: Experimental simulation with implications for meteoroid dimensions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 70.

PASSC # 46
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Walton, E.L., Spray, J.G. and Kelley, S.P. 2006. Shock implantation of martian atmospheric argon in four basaltic shergottites: A laser probe investigation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71, 497-520.

PASSC # 48
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Trepmann, C.A. and Spray, J.G. 2006. Shock-induced crystal-plastic deformation and post-shock annealing of quartz: microstructural evidence from crystalline target rocks of the Charlevoix impact structure, Canada. European Journal of Mineralogy

PASSC # 49
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Rodriguez, J.A.P., Sasaki, S., Dohm, J.M., Tanaka, K.L., Strom, R., Kargel, J., Kuzmin, R., Miyamoto, H., Spray, J.G., Fairén, A.G., Komatsu, G., Kurita, K., and Baker, V. 2005. Control of impact crater fracture systems on subsurface hydrology, ground subsidence and collapse, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets) 110, E06003, doi:10.1029/2004JE002365 .

PASSC # 50
Type: Abstract
Status: Published
Hudgins, J.A., Spray, J.G. 2006. Lunar Impact-Fluidized Dikes: Evidence from Apollo 17 Station 7, Taurus-Littrow Valley., Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII.1176.pdf

PASSC # 51
Type: Abstract
Status: Published
Walton, E.L., Spray, J.G., Herd, C.D.K., 2006. Melting Rocks by Shock: Localized Shock Melting in Martian Meteorites and Target Rocks from the Manicouagan Impact Structure., Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII. 2025.pdf

PASSC # 52
Type: Abstract
Status: Published
Spray, J.G., 2006. Ultrametamorphism of Impure Carbonates Beneath the Manicouagan Impact Melt Sheet: Evidence for Superheating., Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII. 2385.pdf

PASSC # 53
Type: Abstract
Status: Published
Battler, M.M., Richard, J., Boucher, D., Spray, J.G., 2006. Developing an Anorthositic Lunar Regolith Simulant., Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII. 1622.pdf

PASSC # 54
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Osinski, G.R., Spray, J.G., Grieve, R.A.F., Impact melting in sedimentary target rocks: An assessment. The Geological Society of America, Special Paper 437, pp. 1-18. 2008.

PASSC # 55
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Hudgins, J.A., Walton, E.L. and Spray, J.G. Mineralogy, petrology and shock history of lunar meteorite Sayh al Uhaymir 300: a crystalline impact melt breccia. Meteoritics and Planetary Science.

PASSC # 56
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Hudgins, J.A., Spray, J.G, Kelley, S.P., Korotev, R.L. and Sherlock, S.C. 2008. A laser probe ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and INAA investigation of four Apollo granulitic breccias. Geochemica et Cosmochemica Acta 72, 5781-5798.

PASSC # 58
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Boast, M. and Spray, J.G. 2006. Superimposition of a thrust-transfer fault system on a large impact structure: implications for Ni-Cu-PGE exploration at Sudbury. Economic Geology, v.101 1583-1594.

PASSC # 60
Type: Paper
Status: In Press
Spray, J.G. and Thompson, L.M. 2008. Constraints on central uplift structure from the Manicouagan impact crater. Meteoritics and Planetary Science (December 2008 Issue)

PASSC # 61
Type: Paper
Status: Published
Evangelatos, J., Butler, K. E., Spray, J. G. 2009. A marine magnetic study of a carbonate-hosted impact structure: Ile Rouleau, Canada. Geophysical Journal International.

 

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Previous Graduate Students

Name	Year	Research
Jillian Hudgins	2009	PhD – Mineralogy, Petrology and Chronology of the Lunar Granulitic Breccias.
Melissa Battler	2008	MSc – Development of an anorthositic lunar regolith simulant: OB-1.
Simon Craggs	2008	MSc – The Structural Control and Tectonic Evolution of the Campbellton Region , Northern New Brunswick, Canada.
John Evangelatos	2008	MSc – A magnetic investigation of the Île Rouleau impact structure, Lac Mistassini, Quebec. (co-supervised with Dr Karl Butler).
Michelle Boast	2006	PhD –The metamorphic aureole of the Sudbury impact structure, Sudbury, Ontario.
Erin L. Walton	2005	PhD – Shock metamorphic processes in Martian meteorites
Gordon R. Osinski	2004	PhD – Impacts into sedimentary targets: Constraints from the Haughton and Ries impact structures
Alain J. Murphy	2003	PhD – Geological setting of the Whistle-Parkin Offset, Sudbury, Ontario.
Martin Tuchscherer	2002	MSc – Petrology, Geochemistry, and Emplacement of the Foy Offset Dike, Sudbury.
Ali Ahmadi	2002	PhD – Petrogenesis of two post-collision ultrapotassic volcanic suites from northwest and central Iran
Graham Nickerson	2002	MScE – Morphometry of the Crooked Creek and Decaturville impact structures using 3-D visualization
Ronald G. Scott	2001	PhD – Geological setting and magnetics of the South Range Breccia Belt, Sudbury
Christina R . Wood	1998	MSc – Geological setting of Hess Offset, Sudbury
James Whitehead	1998	PhD – Obduction- and post-obduction-related features of the Quebec Appalacian ophiolites
Lucy M. Thompson	1996	PhD – Pseudotachylytes from the Sudbury Impact Structure, Ontario, Canada
Chris Hawkes	1996	PhD – Effects of pore pressure penetration on the extent of the yielded zone around a wellbore
Gordon T. Clarke	1994	MSc – Stratigraphy and lithogeochemistry of the North End Zone Zn-Pb-Cu-(Ag) Deposit, Bathurst, New Brunswick
Lori A. Kennedy	1990	MSc – Deformation and melting of sedimentary rock during diamond drilling
Patricia A. Flagler	1989	MSc – Petrogenesis of the Fournier oceanic complex, New Brunswick

Previous Post Doctoral Fellows
Name	Year	Research
Claudia A. Trepmann	2002 - 2004	Microstructural effects in shocked rocks from the Charlevoix impact structure, Quebec
James Whitehead	1998 - 2004	Impact cratering: Popigai and Mars
Richard L. Kellett	1994 - 1996	A geophysical and remote sensing study of fault zones around large meteorite impact structures

Previous Visiting Scientists
Dr. Roald Tagle	May - August, 2006	Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium.