[meteorite-list] Muong Nong Tektites (was: MOLDAVITE COLORS)

[bernd.pauli at paulinet.de]

Hello Steve and List,

"What is a muong nong tektite ... What do
they look like and what is the composition?"


Muong Nong-type tektite characteristics:

- they are relatively large and blocky
- they are layered
- they do not display an aerodynamic shape
- they are more internally heterogeneous in texture and chemistry
- they have more bubbles than "normal" indochinites
- they have higher volatile element contents
- some contain relict minerals
- they are related to the normal (splashform) Australasian tektites
   => similar age
   => similar chemical and isotopic composition
- they represent a more primitive, less altered stage
- they mostly come from an approximately 800 by 1100 km area encompassing
   parts of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and southern China

Reference: Meteoritical Society, 1992

C.C. Schnetzler (1992) Mechanism of Muong Nong-type tektite
formation and speculation on the source of Australasian tektites.