[meteorite-list] Tektite looking objects found in Park Forest

From: Sterling K. Webb <kelly_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:10:01 2004
Message-ID: <3E8BDEF5.230A4119_at_bhil.com>

Hi,

    If these are "tar-tites," they would have to have been present before the
meteorite impact, since the heat necessary to have produced the "tar-tites"
could not have been generated by the impact (else you'd have charred wood,
etc.).
    Only the purest pitch or bitumen will show glass-like fracture properties.
Roofing tar is a mixture of expensive pitch with a great many cheap hydrocarbon
volatiles and can stay gooey for decades.
    As the owner of 7000 square feet of nineteenth century flat rooves who has
spent way too many hours mopping tar on a 120-degree roof, I doubt tar, but
Mike's right: the first test should be to try to melt one. A low heat is all
that's needed for tar (a butane lighter would do).
    Adam, let us know the results of a tar test?

Sterling Webb
-------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Farmer wrote:

> Adam, I spoke with some people and they all tell me tar from roofing does
> that. I would suggest heating one to see what happens.
> Mike
Received on Thu 03 Apr 2003 02:12:54 AM PST