The major and trace elements of several microtektites from sediments from ODP Site 1144 in the South China Sea and two tektites from Zhanjiang and Wuchuan were measured by microprobe and laser probe inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LP-ICPMS). The results indicate that the microtektites from ODP Site 1144 are part of the normal microtektites of the Australasian strewn area. Based on their chemical composition, there are two types of microtektites among the ODP Site 1144 microtektites. The majority of these microtektites exhibit a high abundance of Al (sub 2) O (sub 3) , between 19.0% and 22.1%, which lies within the high Al end members of the Australasian microtektites. Accordingly, their refractory element content is higher than that of the Australasian tektites. Only one out of the 9 spherules from the ODP Site 1144 microtektites exhibits a low abundance of Al (sub 2) O (sub 3) , 13.0%. Also, the content and some ratios of the refractory elements of this spherule differ much from the other ODP Site 1144 microtektites, but are similar to those of the tektites from Zhanjiang and Wuchuan. The chemical composition of these microtektites indicates that they are all from the same target spot. However, the composition of the source rocks at the target spot were probably heterogeneous.

West: 117.2508 East: 117.2508 North: 20.0311 South: 20.0311

Expedition: 184

Site: 184-1144

Provider: SEDIS Publication Catalogue

Data set link: http://sedis.iodp.org/pub-catalogue/index.php?id=2009-052987 (c.f. for more detailed metadata)

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