First Natural Occurrence of Coesite

Science. 1960 Jul 22;132(3421):220-2. doi: 10.1126/science.132.3421.220.

Abstract

Coesite, the high-pressure polymorph of SiO(2), hitherto known only as a synthetic compound, is identified as an abundant mineral in sheared Coconino sandstone at Meteor Crater, Arizona. This natural occurrence has important bearing on the recognition of meteorite impact craters in quartz-bearing geologic formations.