[meteorite-list] moldavite splashforms w/ artifacts. Inquiry?

From: Zelimir Gabelica <Z.Gabelica_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:14:08 2004
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.20030430192542.00881518_at_pop.univ-mulhouse.fr>

Hi Guy and list,


Regarding moldavites and their chemical etching/weathering, let me describe
an extraordinary tektite I have acquired a couple of years ago, that might
throw some light (or trouble ?) to the debate.

This is an about 8 cm elongated "cylindrical dumb-bell" shaped dark green
tektite, about 2 cm thick, actually a very ordinary shape and morphology.
But there is more.=20
It is not complete but cut into 2 matching halves. NATURALLY cut! And the 2
cut faces are PERFECTLY PLANAR so that one would believe someone would have
cut it with a giant knive while still in a semi molten (very viscous) state.
So far, nothing so very strange.
But there is still more.=20
The planar (cut faces) are also CORRODED, with etching fugures very similar
to those present on the external surface.
=20
This means to me that once the tektite was "cut" (or naturally broken), it
was further submitted to the usual etching process on its falling site. And,
the 2 cut surfaces, although etched, still match so perfectly that, when
sticked together, one would not even guess the tektite is broken. It is
obviously difficult to say if every corrosion figure of the face "a" would
perfectly match the similar corrosion counterpart (if any) on the face "b".
Although some more carefull investigationof this feature could be=
 interesting...

OK, let's assume the tektite fell in a semi molten state, broke through some
shock and then started its weathering process quasi evenly on every
accessible face, including the 2 broken surfeces.=20
But the question is: why the broken faces are completely PLANAR ? =20
When an elongated tektite is broken by, say, a shock, the faces would
probably not be planar if the tektite is hard. This example however suggests
that the breakage resulted, for some obscure reason, in generating 2 planar
faces...

My question to the list experts: why was the tektite "naturally" broken in a
so strange way? I say "naturally" as I doubt some human (if any present 19
MY ago ??), when he would notice the tektite falling, would take his axe or
giant knive and hack it while not yet solidified (and thus probably hot).

I'd try to show you a photo of this strange tektite within the next days. At
least, this all could suggest (prove ?) that some mechanical breakage
occurred BEFORE the etching process even started. If so, the breakage or
cutting first provided 2 smooth planar surfaces that soon started their
etching process.

I got this strange tektite a few weeks too late to be included and described
in Guy's wonderful book. But rather than awaiting for the enxt edition, I'd
like to hear first about Guy Henien (or anybody else's) expertized comments.=
=20

All the best

Zelimir

Note: Guy Neinen's book & CD Rom " TEKTITES - witnesses of cosmic
catastrophes" will also be available for sale, on consignment, at the next
Ensisheim show
-------

At 17:28 28/04/03 +0200, Guy Heinen wrote:
>Hi list,
>
>as I must notice, besides some real specialists, many list members have=20
>only poor notions of tektites.
>In the late nineties, I've written a book on tektites: 'TEKTITES -=20
>witnesses of cosmic catastrophes',
>dealing with almost all questions about tektites. Have a look at my site=20
><http://webplaza.pt.lu/guyhein/index.html>
>For the members of this list, I'll offer my book from now to next Sunday=20
>for the bargain price of only 12!!!$ or =80, postage not included.
>Please contact me off-list.
>Thanx and my best wishes,
>
>Guy Heinen
******************************************************
Prof. Zelimir Gabelica
Groupe S=E9curit=E9 et Ecologie Chimiques (GSEC) - ENSCMu
3, rue A. Werner
F-68093 MULHOUSE Cedex, FRANCE
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 94
FAX: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 15
e-Mail: Z.Gabelica_at_uha.fr
******************************************************
Received on Wed 30 Apr 2003 03:25:42 PM PDT