Triple oxygen isotope composition of Australasian tektites

Abstract

Major and trace element analyses and triple oxygen isotope measurements were performed on 11 individual specimens of Australasian tektites (AAT) with exactly known field positions from Laos. The sample set was dominated by Muong Nong‐type tektites (MNAAT), including separated layers of glass of different appearance and chemistry from four samples. This first larger set of oxygen isotope data of MNAAT revealed the δ18O range 8.7 ≤ δ18O ≤ 11.6‰ on VSMOW2 scale (12 analyses), only slightly wider than the previously reported range for splash‐form AAT. The Δ’17O values of MNAAT (−0.098 ≤ Δ’17O ≤ −0.069‰; 12 analyses) and splash‐form AAT (−0.080 ≤ Δ’17O ≤ −0.068‰; three analyses) are all in the range of data typical for terrestrial crustal rocks, with no mass‐independent oxygen isotope fractionation (from impactor or from exchange with atmospheric O2) being observed.