Tektite forms almost pure glass (with minimal crystalline inclusions) when space debris impacts the Earth, causing surface materials to melt and be ejected hundreds or thousands of kilometers away.
Map of Ananguite strown field based on Tektite location. Image credit: Musolino et al. , doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119600.
“Tektite is a specific type of glass formed by impacts, recognized particularly for its distribution across extensive spray fields far from the source crater,” stated Professor Fred Jordan from Curtin University and his team.
“The widespread distribution in Central Europe (14 million years ago), North America (35 million years ago), the Ivory Coast (1 million years ago), and from China to Australia (780,000 years ago) has been traced back to the spread originating from Central Europe, known for four distinct scattered fields located in Central America (800,000 years ago).
“The corresponding tektites include Moldavites, Bediasite-Georgiaite, Ivorites, Australiasites, and Belizites, respectively.”
A newly identified type of Tektite, called Ananguite, has been found primarily in South Australia.
“Discovering a new Tektite field is akin to opening a new chapter in Earth’s tumultuous geological history,” remarked Professor Jourdan.
“These glasses are indigenous to Australia and reveal ancient impact events previously unknown to us.”
“Each piece acts as a small time capsule from the depths of our planet’s history.”
“What adds intrigue to these findings is that, despite the considerable impact, the crater has yet to be located.”
“Understanding when and how frequently large asteroids strike Earth can also assist in evaluating the risk of future impacts, which is vital for planetary defense.”
Photos of six Tektites studied by Musolino et al. Scale bar – 2 mm. Image credit: Musolino et al. , doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119600.
“The glasses differ from all previously known tektites,” noted PhD candidate Annam Solino from AIX-Marseille University.
“These tektites are distinct due to their unusual chemistry and an approximate age of 11 million years.”
“They indicate a shock event that is completely separate from the fields associated with well-known Australian tektites.”
“While Australian tektites formed roughly 780,000 years ago and have spread across the globe, these tektites are significantly older and suggest major impacts that were previously overlooked.”
The team’s research paper was published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
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Anna Musolino et al. 2025. Australia’s new tektite spray field dates back 11 million years, originating from a volcanic arc impact crater. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 670:119600; doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119600
Source: www.sci.news
