[meteorite-list] More on London Clay Microtektites
From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 01:27:03 -0500 Message-ID: <018401c79f5e$e0a6d2c0$f54de146_at_ATARIENGINE> Hi, Addresing not Aubrey, but his informant... Why is this so familiar? Is there a Mystery Object Protocol that demands that things be presented obliquely, incompletely, and confusingly? > The tektites have a high Ca content and this factor > through [THROWS?] those who expect them to > show substantial silica in their make up. But the people > that found difficulty with such a composition, in my view, > simply had an inability in grasp that some things in heaven > and earth are literally beyond the powers of human understanding. So, they have been analysed for bulk composition, then? Calcium is high. How high? Provide percentages, please. They don't show "substantial" silica? How much silica? NUMBERS, please. In fact, how about the entire bulk composition results? What is their chief constituent? If they're "glass" as claimed, they must contain a more than measurable amount of silicon dioxide. That's what glass is. If they're tektites, it is inconceivable that they would be silica-free. The only thing that's beyond my "powers of human understanding" is what he thinks he's doing with this idiotic babble about dataless compositions and vague mysticism. Does he have data or not? Sounds like a complete flake. I suppose another source can be added to the list of possible origins: a night in the lab with bunsen and pipette and some nice glass stock. Shame. If they were real and from the beginning of the Eocene (55 mya) instead of the end of the Eocene (35 mya), they might be evidence from an enigmatic event: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleocene-Eocene_Thermal_Maximum Aubrey, why don't you ask him if he actually has any real data, how he got it (who did the tests), and such like questions, as, would he show it to you or let you put it on your website? And, finally, despite the visual resemblance to microtektites, there is one other substance which these objects could be: Amber. Amber was formed largely 50+ mya, is often found in early Eocene deposits, is suitably durable, is extensively transported by water, assumes fluid forms, and so forth. Amber can absorb considerable calcium (buried with bird bones you said). If the chief element of its composition is Carbon, you might have amber... Sterling K. Webb ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: Aubrey Whymark To: britishandirishmeteoritesociety at yahoogroups.com ; meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 4:51 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] More on London Clay Microtektites Hi Michael Daniels, who discovered the London Clay tektites has recently emailed me a little more information, which I'd like to pass on: When it comes to your correspondent's doubts, which they are fully entitled to submit, particularly suspicions raised about the possibility of contaminates, origins connected with fly-ash and power stations, volcanics, yes, they are all familiar observations con- cerning the particles. And, as before, I just make the suggestion that for those more doubtful, they come down here and I will gladly conduct them to the Naze when I shall be more than appreciative to hear their explanations as to where I may have, in my enthusiasm, become a little adventurous in my concept and having unquestioning belief in the antiquity of the little glassy objects. That might be for me an acid test, but actually I think when they have better appreciation of the conditions prevailing at this lower London Clay locality, I think I can win over a few potential critics. Just to deal with a couple of questions raised by those who have written. I have today once more checked the particles and none show any magnetic properties. Some do have voids and there is a little evidence of impurities, but if that is confirmed then just might be tiny specs of dirt or plant debris. As for their pristine state, no sign of them suffering any ablation. Many of the fossil bird bones that I have collected from the Walton site are in such a remarkable condition that I have had to be careful when comparing them with modern avian elements, so perfect are they that confusion over which is which could arise. This is because once the relics came to rest on the sea bed and were fast covered with sediment, there they remained down 55 (not 35!) million years until they were caused to emerge when I dug up the pocket, composed mainly of plant material, in which they were lodged and so reveal them once more to the light of day! The tektites have a high Ca content and this factor through those who expect them to show substantial silica in their make up. But the people that found difficulty with such a composition, in my view, simply had an inability in grasp that some things in heaven and earth are literally beyond the powers of human understanding. Have a pleasant weekend Sincerely Michael Thanks for all the feedback, Aubrey (out of contact for a bit in the Middle East, so apologies if I don't reply) www.tektites.co.uk Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your free account today. ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list Received on Sat 26 May 2007 02:27:03 AM PDT |
StumbleUpon del.icio.us Yahoo MyWeb |