Geochemistry and origin of tektites from Guilin of Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan

Abstract

Six tektites from Guilin of Guangxi, Hainan, and Guangdong were analyzed for the abundances of major elements and 27 trace elements. All samples are splash-form tektites and have SiO2 contents ranging from 73.1wt% to 76.0wt% (74.6wt% on average). The chemical compositions, except Cr and Ni, of tektites from different areas, are similar. Guangdong tektite shows enrichments of Ni and Cr contents by a factor of 3, and has slightly higher MgO and FeO than Hainan and Guilin tektites. It indicates that the tektites were formed by mixing several target rocks. The major and trace element concentrations of southern China tektites closely resemble previously reported data for average splash-form and Muong Nong-type indochinites, indicating that they have the same source. (La/Lu)CI (7.99), Zr/Hf (35.45 on average), Ba/Rb (3.59 on average), and the rare earth element (REE) contents of tektites are similar to those of typical post Archean upper crustal rocks. This study suggests that the best fit for the target source of southern China tektites could be a combination of 41% shale, 2% sandstone, 20% greywacke, and 37% quartzite.