Australasian microtektites across the Antarctic continent: Evidence from the Sør Rondane Mountain range (East Antarctica)

The~790 ka Australasian(micro)tektite strewn field is one of the most recent and best-known examples of impact ejecta emplacement as the result of a large-scale cratering event across a considerable part of Earth's surface(>10%in area).The Australasian strewn field is characterized by a tri-lobe pattern consisting of a large central distribution lobe,and two smaller side lobes extending to the west and east.Here,we report on the discovery of microtektite-like particles in sedimentary traps,containing abundant micrometeorite material,in the Sør Rondane Mountain(SRM)range of East Antarctica.The thirty-three glassy particles display a characteristic pale yellowcolor and are predominantly spherical in shape,except for a single dumbbell-shaped particle.The vitreous spherules range in size from220 to 570μm,with an average diameter of~370μm.This compares relatively well with the size distribution(75–778μm)of Australasian microtektites previously recovered from the TransantarcticMountains(TAM)and located ca.2500–3000 km fromthe SRM.In addition,the chemical composition of the SRM particles exhibits limited variation and is nearly identical to the‘normal-type’(i.e.,<6%MgO)TAM microtektites.The Sr and Nd isotope systematics for a single batch of SRM particles(n=26)strongly support their affiliation with TAMmicrotektites and the Australasian tektite strewn field in general.Furthermore,Sr isotope ratios and Nd model ages suggest that the target material of the SRM particles was composed of a plagioclase-or carbonate-rich lithology derived from a Paleo-or Mesoproterozoic crustal unit.The affiliation to the Australasian strewn field requires long-range transportation,with estimated great circle distances of ca.11,600 km from the hypothetical source crater,provided transportation occurred along the central distribution lobe.This is in agreement with the observations made for the Australasian microtektites recovered from Victoria Land(ca.11,000 km)and Larkman Nunatak(ca.12,000 km),which,on average,decrease in size and alkali concentrations(e.g.,Na and K)as their distance from the source crater increases.The values for the SRMparticles are intermediate to those of the Victoria Land and Larkman Nunatak microtektites for both parameters,thus supporting this observation.We therefore interpret the SRM particles as‘normal-type’Australasian microtektites,which significantly extend the central distribution lobe of the Australasian strewn field westward.Australasian microtektite distribution thus occurred on a continent-wide scale across Antarctica and allows for the identification of new,potential recovery sites on the Antarctic continent as well as the southeastern part of the Indian Ocean.Similar to volcanic ash layers,the~790 ka distal Australasian impact ejecta are thus a record of an instantaneous event that can be used for time-stratigraphic correlation across Antarctica.

Microtektites in the Middle Pleistocene deep-sea sediments of the South China Sea

This is a preliminary study on the microtektites that were found in large numbers from the interval between 7.80 and 8.10 m depth of core S095-17957-2 (10°53.9’N, 115°18.3’E, water depth 2 195 m), northern Nansha area of the South China Sea. The microtektites vary in shape, with spherules predominating, and are commonly less than 1 mm in diameter, transparent or semitransparent, brownish in color, with bubbles inside. Based on coarse fraction stratigraphy and foraminifera/nanofossil biostratigraphical events the microtektite layer was assigned to nearly the Bm-hes/Matuyama magnetic reversal boundary (some 0.78 MaBP). Obviously, the present microtektites, and those found from the middle Pleistocene of the Indian Ocean, Australia and loess of northern China, were products of the same impact event and therefore, are useful as a reliable mark in Quaternary stratigraphy, as well as in paleoclimatic studies.

Microtektites and Glassy Microspherules in Loess: Their Discoveries and Implications

It is first in continental sediment-loess that 16 microtektites and 3 ablated glassy Si-Mg microspherules were found. They occur only in the upper layer of L8, a 40—70-cm horizon above the B/M boundary. The age of deposition is about 0.72 Ma. Microtektites in loess are usually sphere, speroid, kidney-form, tear-drop and irregular debris in shape. They are transparent and translucent, and some have the shade of green, amber and yellow in color. Their sizes range from 65 to 220μm. Most of microtektites were badly pitted and corroded, but there remain bubbles, cavities and scorious and flow microstructure in some ones. On the basis of their major oxide compositions, microtektites in loess may be divided into three chemical groups that are described as normal, bottle-green and high-aluminium microtektite. They are similar in chemical composition to microtektites in deep-sea cores. Geochemistry of trace elements show that the origin of microtektite is very complicated and their parent materials are from multiple sources. On the basis of geographical location, deposition age, stratigraphic occurrence, physical property and chemical composition, microtektites found in loess at Luochuan may fall into the Australia-Southeast Asian tektite strewn field.

Microspherules-Bearing White Sandstone: Implication of Cosmic Impact Event near Jurassic-Cretaceous Boundary in West Central Sinai, Egypt

The presence of glass microspherules enclosing relict grains, shattered quartz and silicon carbide in white sandstone beds near the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary in west central Sinai indicates a cosmic impact event. Characterization of the impact microspherules and proposing a reasonable scenario for their origin are the aims of this work. Field observations, optical, binocular, scanning electron and high-resolution transmitted electron microscopy investigations and chemical analyses were carried out. The study revealed that glass microspherules have high Al2O3 and FeO contents and low CaO and MgO contents. The high content of Al2O3 indicates that the source of microtektite-like microspherules is attributed to the melting of a clay-rich sandstone and carbonaceous matter, while the high content of FeO indicates admixing with projectile matter. The reaction between silica and carbon was carried out under conditions of high temperature (T > 1000°C) and carbon (C/Si > 1) which resulted in the production of silicon carbide with microdiamond intergrowth. Consequently, this intergrowth is in accordance with the impact origin via rapid condensation and growth within a vapor phase. In spite of the fact that no source crater has been recognized to date in the study area, the authors propose at least a single cosmic impact event scenario for the recorded glass microspherules in west central Sinai. The impact excavated the Paleozoic siliciclastic sedimentary rocks and then the glass microspherules showered the area of study. The deposition of microtektite-like glass particles within the white sandstone beds of the Malha Formation took place in the fluvial plain terrestrial environment. This setting precluded severe post-depositional reworking, yielding preservation of the glass particles in a primary layer. Eventually, lateral migration of the braided channels led to the reworking of the microspherules layer and the spatial dispersal of the shattered quartz.

GEOLOGICAL MARKS OF A POSSIBLE EXTRATERRESTRIAL IMPACT EVENT ON THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN SINIAN/CAMBRIAN IN TIANMENSHAN IN WESTERN HUNAN

Geologic marks related to extraterrestrial impact events, such as impact split gravels, impact brecciate layers, impact dikes, microirghizites, microtektites, especially meteoritic residues, were discovered on the boundary between Sinian/Cambrian at Tianmenshan of Western Hunan, which may possibly demonstrate that an extraterrestrial impact event has ever occurred there on the S/C boundary.

Age estimation of the mid-Pleistocene microtektite event in the South China Sea: A case showing the complexity of the sea-land correlation

The present study confirms the stratigraphical position of microtektite layer being clearly located below the Brunhes/Matuyama (B/M) boundary. Based on the sedimentation rate derived from the stable isotopic and magnetic data of ODP Site 772A, cores 17957 and 17959 in the South China Sea, the age of the mid-Pleistocene impact event was estimated at 10-12 ka earlier than the Brunhes-Matuyama polarity reversal. However, the microtektites were found above the measured B/M boundary in the loess profile due to the downward deviation of the measured B/M boundary from its true position. This demonstrates the complexity of paleo-magnetic records in the loess profiles which, in turn, causes the confusion in the sea-land stratigraphic correlation.

A STUDY ON THE BLACK MICROSPHERULES WITH MAGNETISM IN SOIL FROM DONGLING MOUNTAIN, BEIJING

Dongling Mountain is the highest one of the Beijing West Mountains. There is a layer of subalpine meadow soil about 0.50 m thick at the top of the mountain, of which the basement rock is the Jurassic andesite. A section was artificially dug out and some samples

Geochemistry of 0.7 Ma B. P. Microtektite Bearing Loess Layers --I. Stable Carbon Isotope

Loess and paleosol have been regarded as an excellent geological body for reestablishment of the past 2.4 Ma paleoclimatic history.The discovery and study of microtektites in Luochuan loess section imply that the influence of impact event

RECORDS OF TWO ASTROGEOLOGIC EVENTS IN THE LOESS STRATA,LANTIAN,SHAANXI,CHINA

The thick loess strata in the Loess Plateau of China, which have not been essentially reformed by internal and external agents, are one of the optimum continental deposits preserving the extraterrestrial materials in the last 2.5 Ma. Thus, combining the records with the detailed data of the loess-paleosol sequence, the ages and environmental impacts of the astrogeologic events can be determined.

Geochemistry of 0.7 Ma B.P. microtektite bearing loess layers (Ⅳ)——Trace elements

Anomalies of content of Ir, noble metals and other trace elements are usually regarded as crucial evidence of impact event. A large number of microtektites have been found in deep-sea sediments since the 1960s, but analyses of trace elements in microtektitebearing layers have seldom been reported, with the exception that Asaro et al. stated that microtektite-bearing layers in Caribbean Gulf exhibited anomaly of Ir (?). The

Geochemistry of 0.7 Ma B.P. Microtektite-bearing Loess Layers——Ⅱ. Magnetic Susceptibility

Magnetic susceptibility (MS) value actually reflects component and contents of magnetic minerals.As a substitute indicator,MS is widely used for study on paleoclimatology recorded in loess and paleosol.Moreover,the MS value of microtektite-bearing loess layers may expose contamination of the loess by abnormal

Geochemistry of 0.7 Ma B.P. Microtektite- bearing Loess Layers——Ⅲ Grain Size Distribution

The features of grain size distribution of microtektite-bearing layers are crucial, direct indicators to reflect the addition of impact dust into loess sediments.Because their sampling intervals were too large, previous surveys could not reveal the contamination of the loess sediments by impact fallout (dust) in light of grain size distribution. Here, the authors present measurements for grain size distribution of loess samples taken around the microtektite-bearing layers at very dense sampling intervals.

THE DISCOVERY OF MICROTEKTITE IN LOESS AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

Ⅰ. RESEARCHED PROFILEIn China, the most detailed study on loess was carried out in the Heimugou loess profile located at Luochuan County, Shaanxi Province, where the loess has a thickness of 135m. According to the lithologic character, loess of this section can be divided into Pouto loess, Malan loess, Lishi loess and Wucheng loess. The layer of red clay,