[meteorite-list] Atmospheric ablation marks on Tektites?

[Michael Gilmer]

Hi Group!

While reading through another Meteorite-related
message board on the WWW, I ran across a statement by
an IMCA member that puzzles me somewhat.  A discussion
about Libyan Desert Glass was ongoing, and we were
sharing photos of our LDG specimens.  (and I showed
off my new 9+ gram piece of dark-veined glass from
Michael Farmer - thanks Mike!)

So the guy says :

"This is one of my favorites and is fully oriented
with regmaglypts (yes, tektite impactites can have
atmospheric ablation patterns too)."

Ok, here is my confusion - I was under the impression
that tektites were formed on impact - on Earth.  So,
doesn't this mean they cannot have atmospheric
ablation patterns?  Assuming the tektite never passed
through the atmosphere, I don't see how this is
possible.

I have seen tektites with features that resemble
regmaglypts and orientation, but this is just chance
occurence, right?

Or do I need to be schooled here?

Thanks in advance!

MikeG



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