A POSSIBLE MECHANISM FOR THE FORMATION OF THE AUSTRALASIAN TEKTITE STREWNFIELD

Abstract

Computer modeling methods are used to examine the possibility of the formation of the Australasian tektite strewnfield as a result of an asteroidal impact on an island of volcanic origin with a hill. It is shown that, when an asteroid hits a mountain, the angle of dispersion of high-speed ejecta increases, which can explain the large size of the Australasian tektite strewnfield. The absence of a found crater-source of tektites is explained by the fact that such an impact would result in the formation of an underwater crater, which is more difficult to detect than one located on land.