Occurrence, distribution, and age of Australian tektites

Geographic distribution, relative abundance, physical properties, and chemical composition of australites (Australian tektites) were studied. Tektites were found in late Pleistocene or early Recent sandy aeolianite; the presence of delicate surface features on many tektites suggests that these tektites have not been subjected to terrestrial forces which would have relocated them. The stratigraphic findings indicate an age of 7000 to 20,000 years before the present, although K-Ar and fission track data are consistent with an age of about 700,000 years. Distribution within the strewn-fall is irregular and is attributed to original nonuniform fall, burial by recent deposition, or removal by erosion. Variations in chemical composition and size with respect to geographic distribution are also discussed.