[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

'aerodynamic' tektites



Tektites occur in 4 strewnfields.Only the largest,the Australasian
strewnfield,has 'produced' aerodynamically shaped tektites.They are found
in Australia and the Indian Ocean.
The Australasian event (about 770 000 years ago)has produced the whole
range of tektites:Muong Nong tektites - splash form tektites -
aerodynamically shaped tektites - microtektites.
Muong Nong tektites (called after a locality in Cambodia)are the heaviest
tektites (up to 24 kg) and are thought to occur in the vicinity of the
impact crater (for the supporters of impact origin).
Splash form tektites are the tektites sensu stricto,formed as glassy
blobs.Spheres,ellipsoids,drops,dumbells aso.result from the rotation of
these blobs.
Aerodynamically shaped tektites had the greatest speed,leaved the
atmosphere,travelled through space and reentered the atmosphere with about
7 km/s.During the reentering-phase,remelting of the front-side occured.
Result:Tektites with a flange.
Microtektites measure about some micrometers and are found far from the
impact,due to their size and winddrifting.
More in my book 'Tektites-witnesses of cosmic catastrophes'existing (for
the moment) only in German.An issue in English will follow end 1998.

guy.heinen@ci.educ.lu