Terrestrial implication of layering, bubble shape and minerals along faults in tektite origin

Abstract

Both detrital mineral grains and minerals which crystallized in situ were first found in tektites along faults in Muong Nong-type indochinites from Kan Luang Dong, Thailand. The detrital mineral grains have the optical properties of quartz and are within the size range of quartz abundant in local soil and rock. Such a correspondence in grain size strongly implies that the tektites from Kan Luang Dong are locally derived. Layered tektites are probably the result of the accumulation in puddles of melt from flash fusion of bare patches of soil and rock. The faulting took place while the melt was very hot and the evidence for this is: (1) perfect welding of the fault-fractures with detrital grains equally embedded in the glass on either side of the welds, (2) growth of minerals along the faults, and (3) warping of the fault planes by movement of the melt following faulting.