Microtektites, Microkrystites, and Spinels from a Late Pliocene Asteroid Impact in the Southern Ocean

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Margolis, Stanley V., Claeys, Philippe, Kyte, Frank T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 1991
• Subjects: Multidisciplinary; Pacific; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.251.5001.1594; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.251.5001.1594

The properties of glassy spherules found in sedimentary deposits of a late Pliocene asteroid impact into the southeast Pacific are similar to those of both microtektites and microkrystites. These spherules probably formed from molten silicate droplets that condensed from an impact-generated vapor cloud. The spherules contain inclusions of magnesioferrite spinels similar to those in spherules found at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, indicating that both sets of spherules are impact debris formed under similar physical and chemical conditions.