Visulization of High- and Low-rate Compressive Failure of Quartz

Introduction: Quartz is one of the most common minerals in rocks on Earth and on other non-icy planetary bodies. Apart from the generation of microstructural features such as planar fractures and planar deformation features, which are associated with the high pressure and loading rates associated with shock loading [1,2], not much is known on the fracture behavior of this material during large scale impacts, where much of the rock does not necessarily encounter high pressures and loading rates. Here we provide experimental evidence that planar fractures can be generated during unloading form uniaxial compression at stresses and loading rates lower than those typically associated with shock loading. We therefore, provide experimental results that can be used to better understand fracturing during large scale cratering events on the Earth and planets. Experimental method: Cube shaped specimens with 5mm edge length were cut from larger natural quartz crystals from Brazil. Specimens were subjected to uniaxial compression along the