Shock metamorphic features such as planar deformation features, high-pressure mineral phases, and shatter cones are key diagnostic tools used by geologists to reliably distinguish hypervelocity meteorite impact craters from terrestrial explosion craters.
The retrieved literature consistently supports the premise that shock metamorphic features (such as shatter cones, planar deformation features, and high-pressure mineral phases) are definitive criteria for identifying impact structures and separating them from conventional explosion craters. Multiple papers confirm that these extreme high-pressure, ultra-high strain rate signatures are unique to cosmic impact events.