Shatter Cone

$118.83
Chemical FormulaShocked metasediment
Crystal System
Mohs Hardnessvaries
Specific Gravity2.6–2.8
LusterDull to striated
TransparencyOpaque

Shatter cones are the diagnostic proof of hypervelocity impact: concentric, striated conical fractures produced only by shock pressures exceeding 2–30 GPa. No other geological proc…

12 in stock

SKU: TC-GEO-0872
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Description

Every mineral is a story of chemistry, pressure, and patience. Shatter cones are the diagnostic proof of hypervelocity impact: concentric, striated conical fractures produced only by shock pressures exceeding 2–30 GPa. No other geological process produces them. Sudbury’s shatter cones formed 1.85 billion years ago in the second-largest confirmed impact on Earth. The Sudbury crater (now eroded to a basin) is 130 km across.

This specimen originates from Sudbury Basin, Ontario, Canada, one of the world’s most significant localities for this type of material. Collectors and scientists have drawn from this region for generations, and for good reason: the combination of geological conditions here produces specimens of exceptional quality and clarity.

Every specimen is unique. Photographs approximate the visual experience, but the real thing — its weight, its luster under a raking light, the way it catches the corner of your eye — can only be experienced directly.

Formation

This specimen formed through geological processes operating over timescales that dwarf human history. The specific combination of chemistry, temperature, pressure, and time at this locality produced material of exceptional quality that makes it a valued addition to any serious collection.

Locality

Shatter Cone from Sudbury Basin, Ontario, Canada. This locality is known for producing specimens of exceptional quality.

Collector Notes

Handle with care; crystal terminations are irreplaceable once damaged.