Stishovite (after S.M. Stishov, 20th-century Russian mineralogist) is a dense tetragonal form (polymorph) of silicon dioxide that is formed only, so far as is known, at the very high pressures (~100 kbar = 10 GPa) and temperatures (> 1200°C) present during a meteor's impact on quartz-bearing rock. Stishovite may also be synthesized by duplicating these conditions in the laboratory, either isostatically or through shock (see shocked quartz). For properties see ^* and and for its relationship to impacts see [http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/meteor.htm

Related mineral: see Coesite

Quartz varieties

Stishovit | Stishovite | Stishovite