U‐Pb dating of zircon and monazite from the uplifted Variscan crystalline basement of the Ries impact crater

Impact crater central peaks and peak ring complexes are important exploration targets for future missions to other planetary bodies, because they provide access material uplifted from lower crustal levels. Material exposed there could also chronological constraints on formation events. Therefore, it is essential understand if preserves the records of igneous metamorphic protolith rocks, or such reset during impact To investigate this issue, we collected shocked gneiss granite samples crystalline basement megablocks in 24 km diameter Ries Germany, which dated at ~14.8 Ma. Petrographic observations, electron beam imaging, Raman spectroscopy suggest that these record pressures ~10–15 GPa. In situ U-Pb dating shows monazite systematics have not been affected by impact, as gneisses granites yielded dates ~370 330 Ma, consistent with known Variscan magmatic The some zircon grains approximately 5–10 younger than age event. These young correspond U-rich metamict domains may reflect recent Pb loss and/or U-gain postimpact hydrothermal alteration weathering. observations indicate craters bodies might useful petrological underlying target rocks rather directly events, sampling melt melt-bearing lithologies should remain primary target.