[meteorite-list] Origin of Tektites

From: Michael Fowler <mqfowler_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 10:27:27 -0500
Message-ID: <55329253-F146-4A53-8A26-DAC57F67BDDB_at_mac.com>

Aubrey,

Keep working on your book, I'm sure there is a lot of interest in the subject, especially for a source takes all the best research out there and puts it together in a interesting and unified narrative.

Question:

> Oblique impacts and those impacting silica rich sedimentary rock favor tektite production. Tektites are melted and distally ejected terrestrial rock.


I had not heard that Oblique impacts favor tektite production, in fact I thought that high velocity perpendicular impacts favored the vaporized ejecta plume reaching outside the earth's atmosphere. Could you elaborate on the evidence favoring oblique impacts, or provide a link to any research on the topic?

Thanks,

Mike Fowler
Chicago

> Hi
>
> I'm not sure if I qualify as a tektite 'expert', but I have done a lot of private research. I am working on a book which is 2/3 complete - hopefully 2011, but I struggle to find the time with my work and new baby!
>
> I have an extensive reference list on my website www.tektites.co.uk. This includes links to many freely downloadable papers. I've not updated the site recently so some material is out of date. Also I am working on an even more extensive reference list right now.
>
> Since the 1970's there has been no doubt as to the origin of tektites. They are formed by an asteroid or comet impacting with the Earth. The tektites are formed in the very earliest stages of impact. Oblique impacts and those impacting silica rich sedimentary rock favor tektite production. Tektites are melted and distally ejected terrestrial rock.
>
> North American tektites (Bediasites and Georgiaites) come from the Chesapeake Crater.
>
> Moldavites come from the Ries crater, Germany
>
> Ivory Coast tektites come from Bosumtwi Crater in Ghana.
>
> Australasian tektites come from an undiscovered crater most likely in the Bay of Tonkin between Vietnam and China, perhaps closer to Vietnam. It will be discovered and there is no doubt in this.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Aubrey
> www.tektites.co.uk
Received on Sat 11 Sep 2010 11:27:27 AM PDT