DARWIN Glass and DARWIN Crater: A Progress Report

This paper reports the results of investigation of the nature and extent of the Darwin (Tasmania) glass strewnfield and the crater form associated with it. The glass strewnfield covers 400 sq km and there is a correlation between glass fragment size and abundance and proximity to the crater. An impact crater with a closed sedimentary basin 1000 m in diameter was located, with sand-sized fragments of Darwin glass and lechetelierite found at the 100 m depth of a drilled hole. Since cored sediments account for only half of the observed negative anomaly, further drilling is necessary to confirm an impact origin and delineate the subsurface crater configuration. This information would be of important calibration value for theoretical modeling of explosive cratering. The Darwin strewnfield characteristics support the theory that the distribution of Australian tektites was aided by an impact-generated, atmospheric blast wave(s).