[meteorite-list] Mayanites- a New Tektite Strewnfield

[brian burrer]

The enigmatic tektites that were previously reported from Mayan
archaeolgical sites (Hildebrand and others) in Guatemala and Belize
have now been found in geological context.  They have been reported
from the Cayo district in Belize where a few recoveries have been
made.  An article about them is on the Chaa Creek resort website and
an abstract by Hal Povenmire was presented at the Lunar and Planetary
Science Conference last week in Houston, TX.

I made a trip to Belize in early February with Hal in order to confirm
the findings and will make a second visit in a few weeks.  Several
locations were hunted and two of them produced samples of these rare
stones.  The vegetation is dense and hunting is difficult.  Much more
field work will need to be done in order to determine the size and
extent of the strewnfield.  It will likely extend into Guatemala and
perhaps further.

Happy hunting,
Brian