Australasian microtektites from the Central Indian Basin: Implications for ejecta distribution patterns

Abstract

Microtektites belonging to the Australasian tektite strewn field have been recovered in one (SK-16/176) out of three cores examined from the Central Indian Basin. The microtektites have been identified based on their physical appearance, stratigraphic position, chemical composition and geographic occurrence. Their chemistry reveals that among the analysed specimens, a majority belong to the 'normal' microtektite clan, one has a high Mg (HMg) composition shown by bottle green microtektites, and some have an intermediate composition. The absence of microtektites in the other two cores (SK-16/183 and F-2/88B) could be because of the small area of coverage by sediment coring. Therefore, given the vastness of the Australasian tektite strewn field, many more microtektite locations have to be identified in order to arrive at a microtektite distribution pattern