shatter cone

noun Geology.

a small, radially striated rock structure produced by intense shock, such as generated by meteorite impact.

Origin of shatter cone

First recorded in 1945–50

Also called pressure cone.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

pressure cone in Science

shatter cone

[shăt′ər]

A fractured, conical fragment of rock that has striations radiating outward from the apex. Shatter cones are believed to form when rocks are subjected to shock waves associated with a meteoric impact. They are typically between a few centimeters and a few meters long.