The water, deuterium, gas and uranium content of tektites

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
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Abstract

The water content, deuterium concentration of the water, total gas and uranium contents were determined on tektite samples and other glass samples from Texas, Australia, Philippine Islands, Java, French Indo-China, Czechoslovakia, Libyan Desert, Billiton Island, Thailand, French West Africa, Peru, and New Mexico. The water content ranges from 0.24 per cent for the Peru tektite, to 0.0002 per cent for a moldavite. The majority of the tektites have less than 0.05 per cent water, and average 0.005 per cent H2O by weight. No other gases were detected, the lower detection limit being about 1 p.p.m. by weight. The deuterium content of the water in tektites is in the same range as that in terrestrial waters, and varies from 0.010 mole per cent to 0.0166 mole per cent deuterium. The uranium content is about from 1 to 3 p.p.m.

The possible origin of tektites is discussed. The experimental data presented favour their being originally terrestrial, but produced by some catastrophic event. An extra-terrestrial source is not ruled out.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The water, deuterium, gas and uranium content of tektites
Series title Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
DOI 10.1016/0016-7037(58)90071-1
Volume 14
Issue 4
Year Published 1958
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 8 p.
First page 316
Last page 324
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