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Soret diffusion: A possible cause of compositional heterogeneity within tektitesAlthough a terrestrial origin for tektites is well-established on geochemical evidence, the physical processes involved in tektite formation have been largely ignored by geochemists and petrologists. For example, two observations that potentially bear on the physics of their origin are the following: (1) The flange of an australite is often more heterogeneous than its core; and (2) microtektites are compositionally more diverse than tektites. The first observation contradicts the traditional view of flange formation since a second heating to super-liquidus temperatures during atmospheric re-entry should, by chemical diffusion and mixing, have tended to homogenize the melt as it flowed off the leading edge of the core to form the flange. Analyses of an australite flange have been performed by electron microprobe. The results of those analyses emphasize the magnitude of the heterogeneity, as well as the well-defined elemental correlations that may constrain the process responsible for it. The second observation that the bulk compositions of microtektites are more divers than the tektites within the same strewnfield is a well-known characteristic, for which no quantitative explanation has been offered. The current investigation has involved the analysis of 43 Australasian microtektites from the Wharton Basin by electron microprobe, as well as trace-element abundances on fifteen of these microtecktites by INAA.
Document ID
19940007739
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Delano, J. W.
(State Univ. of New York Albany, NY, United States)
Liu, Y.-G.
(Oregon State Univ. Corvallis., United States)
Schmitt, R. A.
(Oregon State Univ. Corvallis., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Inst., Twenty-fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Part 1: A-F
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
94N12211
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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