Tektites
In "tektites' at
http://lists.drizzle.com/pipermail/rockhounds/2011-December/036494.html
Steve Kelland asked,
"Does anyone know if tektites ever devitrify?"
Tektites can devitrify over geological periods of time.
However, the glass composing them typically reacts to
weathering by either complete dissolution or etching instead
of devitrifying into clay. The devitrifcation of tektites into
clays is currently only known to occur under conditions
of limited water contact.
Overall, tektites are exceptional for their high chemical
resistance and long-term stability against devitrification.
In part, the presence of MgO in a simple silica melt
containing CaO significantly suppresses the devitrifcation
of tektites.
For example, go read,
Mazer, J. J., J. K. Bates, J. P. Bradley, C. R. Bradley, and C. M.
Stevenson, 1992, Alteration of tektite to form weathering
products. Nature. vol. 357, no. 6379, pp. 573 - 576
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v357/n6379/abs/357573a0.html
Heide, K., G. Heide, and G. Kloessa, 2001, Glass chemistry of
tektites. Planetary and Space Science. vol. 49, no. 8, pp. 839-844.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032063301000332
Happy New Year,
Paul Heinrich
http://lists.drizzle.com/pipermail/rockhounds/2011-December/036494.html
Steve Kelland asked,
"Does anyone know if tektites ever devitrify?"
Tektites can devitrify over geological periods of time.
However, the glass composing them typically reacts to
weathering by either complete dissolution or etching instead
of devitrifying into clay. The devitrifcation of tektites into
clays is currently only known to occur under conditions
of limited water contact.
Overall, tektites are exceptional for their high chemical
resistance and long-term stability against devitrification.
In part, the presence of MgO in a simple silica melt
containing CaO significantly suppresses the devitrifcation
of tektites.
For example, go read,
Mazer, J. J., J. K. Bates, J. P. Bradley, C. R. Bradley, and C. M.
Stevenson, 1992, Alteration of tektite to form weathering
products. Nature. vol. 357, no. 6379, pp. 573 - 576
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v357/n6379/abs/357573a0.html
Heide, K., G. Heide, and G. Kloessa, 2001, Glass chemistry of
tektites. Planetary and Space Science. vol. 49, no. 8, pp. 839-844.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032063301000332
Happy New Year,
Paul Heinrich
No comments:
Post a Comment