WEST SIBERIAN AREA OF SCATTERED TEKTITE-LIKE GLASSES

Abstract

Unusual glass pebbles and fragments were found in northwestern Siberia several years ago and studied by us after our geologic and geomorphic survey of the localities. Our assumption that these glasses are tektites predetermined the trend of the investigations. Three specimens were found in all. One specimen (U-1) was found 32 km east-northeast of the town of Novyy Urengoy; the other two (U-2 and U-3) were found 7 km north of the town, i.e., about 40 km from the first. In petrographic and physical properties, the Urengoy glasses ('urengoyites') are analogous to tektite glasses of various strewnfields and, in particular, to moldavites. The ratios of their main chemical components also are close to those for tektites. 'Urengoyites' apparently form an independent strewnfield that has not yet been delineated.