Physics
Scientific paper
Oct 1971
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1971gecoa..35.1047m&link_type=abstract
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 35, Issue 10, pp.1047-1058
Physics
2
Scientific paper
Since the physical and chemical events leading to the formation of organic molecules in numerous carbon-containing meteorites (e.g. paraffins, alcohols and aromatics have been identified) have been studied in considerable detail, it becomes important to compare and relate similar studies with tektites. For this purpose, various tektite specimens were heated to temperatures up to 1500°C and the vaporizing molecular species identified with a mass spectrometer. In this technique, volatile constituents are selectively vaporized from the sample, ionized to electrically charged positive particles by bombardment with high energy electrons, and separated in an electric and magnetic field according to their respective molecular weights. Mass spectra for the direct volatilization of individual tektites from the Philippine Islands, Viet Nam, Thailand, Australia, Czechoslovakia and Texas were compared with those obtained from the carbonaceous Pueblito de Allende chondrite and terrestrial obsidian. Trace amounts (in the parts-per-million range) of organic molecules were observed to vaporize in the temperature range 350°-425°C. Among those species identified were carbon dioxide, methane, acetylene, methyl and ethyl alcohol, benzene, naphthalene and a complex mixture of paraffins. Such behavior was not observed with either artificial or naturally occurring terrestrial glasses. Further comparisons with studies performed with specimens from the recent Pueblito de Allende Meteorite show, that while many organic molecules are present in tektites, the relative concentrations of many of the observed species are considerably different. One concludes from this observation that the chemical processes leading to the formation of organic molecules found in meteorites were probably considerably different from those for tektites.
Margrave J. L.
Muenow David W.
Steck S. J.
No associations
LandOfFree
Mass spectrometric evidence for organic constituents in tektites does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Mass spectrometric evidence for organic constituents in tektites, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mass spectrometric evidence for organic constituents in tektites will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1637838