Randmelt

Randmelt refers to a geological process occurring in some impact craters where the impact event causes significant melting of the target rock. This melting is a result of the immense heat generated by the kinetic energy of the impactor being rapidly converted into thermal energy upon collision. The molten rock, often referred to as impact melt, can then cool and solidify, forming distinctive geological features.

The extent of randmelt formation depends on several factors, including the size and velocity of the impactor, the composition of the target material, and the impact angle. Larger impacts with high-velocity impactors striking competent bedrock are more likely to produce substantial volumes of impact melt. The molten material can be ejected from the crater, forming melt sheets, or it can pool within the crater floor.

The solidified impact melt can exhibit various textures, such as glassy, crystalline, or brecciated, depending on the cooling rate and subsequent geological history. The study of randmelt is important for understanding the dynamics of impact events, the thermal evolution of planetary bodies, and the geological processes that shape impact craters. It can also serve as a record of the composition of the target rocks and the energy of the impact.