Meleorirics C?

l'lanefary Science 34, 757-761 (1999)

0 Meteoritical Society, 1999 Printed in USA

Layered tektites of southeast Asia: Field studies in central Laos and Vietnam
PETERS. FISKE1*, CHARLES
C. SCHNETZLERZ, JOHNMcHONE3, KONGKHAMCHANTHAVAICHITH4,
INPONG HOMSOMBATH4, THONKEO PHOUTHAKAYALAT5, Bou~souKHENTHAVONG6 AND PHAMTICHXUAN7
IL-45, Physics and Space Technology Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
2Department of Geography, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
3Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
4Department of Geology and Mines, Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, Vientiane, Lao P.D.R.
5Industry and Handicraft Department, Savannakhet, Lao P.D.R.
6Science Technology Environment National Organization, Post Ofice Box 739, Savannakhet, Lao P.D.R.
7Institute of Geological Sciences, National Center for Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
*Correspondence author's e-mail address: fiskeI@llnl.gov
(Received I998 September 9; accepted in revised form I999 January 20)
Abstract-We have recovered 18 kg of layered tektites from 10 tektite-bearing localities in Laos and central
Vietnam, including 5 localities around the town of Muong Nong (Laos). Several of these deposits originally
contained several hundred kilograms of layered tektite fragments, and one fragmented mass may have been
as large as 1000 kg. This is the largest single deposit of tektites yet reported.
In this region, layered tektite fragments are found in isolated clusters usually associated with a pebbly
laterite horizon that is 0-1 m below the surface. Near Khe Sanh, Vietnam, we estimate the abundance of
layered tektite fragments to be -100 g/m2. This is greater than five times the abundance estimated for
northeast Thailand (Fiske et al., 1996).
In a region that extends from northeast Thailand, through central Laos, and into central Vietnam, we
found only layered tektites, which confirmed the existence of a large (>50 000 km2) subfield of the
Australasian strewn field with only layered tektites. The east-west extent of the "layered-only" subfield is
well constrained. but little field data exist to constrain its north-south extent.
INTRODUCTION Recent studies indicate that within this 106 km2 area where both
splash and layered tektites occur, there is a much smaller area where
Arguably the biggest impact event of the last several million only layered tektites have been found (Schnetzler, 1992; Wasson et
years occurred 770 000 years ago in southeast Asia. Although no a[., 1995; Schnetzler and McHone, 1995). This region encompasses
crater has been found, the amount of Ir enhancement in coeval southern northeast Thailand, southern Laos, and possibly a small
sediments suggests that the mass of chondritic material in the section of Vietnam. In this region of -50 000 km2, layered tektites
projectile was 1.5 x 1015 g (Schmidt et al., 1993; see also Koeberl, seem to be common and can be quite large (>I kg).
1993). Schmidt and coworkers (1 993) estimate a minimum crater Because of its young age and excellent degree of preservation,
size of 15-19 km; however, an even larger crater diameter (30- the Australasian strewn field provides a unique laboratory in which
110 km) was estimated based on the mass of microtektites in sea to study the effects of large meteorite impacts on the Earth. In
sediments (Glass and Pizzuto, 1994). particular, the preservation of abundant quantities of glassy ejecta,
The primary evidence for this grand impact is the presence of and the presence of one or more "layered-only" zones may provide
glassy ejecta called tektites, impact-melted sediments, strewn over field evidence to constrain large-scale impact processes such as the
most of southeast Asia and extending at least as far as Madagascar size, volume, temperature distribution of ejecta, and compositional
and southem Australia. The southeast Asian tektite "strewn field," mixing or modification of molten ejecta duiing flight. Furthermore,
covering more than one-tenth of the Earth's surface, is the largest the existence of a large number of marine drill core records and
and youngest impact strewn field on Earth and preserves features numerous localities of Pleistocene sediments preserved on land in
that provide important constraints on the processes and effects of southeast Asia may allow for a detailed assessment of the regional-
meteorite impacts on Earth. scale ecological devastation that accompanied the impact.
The Australasian strewn field contains two types of tektites in In 1998 February, we conducted a three-week field trip to Laos
abundance that are morphologically and compositionally distinct: and Vietnam to examine tektite localities along highway 9 in central
splash-form and layered (or Muong Nong) tektites. The more Laos, the discovery site of Muong Nong tektites, and tektite
common variety, splash-form tektites, are found over almost all of localities in central Vietnam. We hoped to confirm and further
the strewn field-from Guangxi, China, down through Australia, define the extent of a "layered-only'' region and to examine localities
and from the east coast of Africa to New Guinea. Splash-form in Vietnam where both layered and splash-form tektites are reported.
tektites are small, compositionally homogeneous bodies that attained We also hoped to confirm the association of tektite fragments with a
their distinctive aerodynamic shapes by solidifying in flight. pebbly laterite horizon, as found in Thailand, western Laos, and
Layered tektites, in contrast, are found over a restricted region of Vietnam (Fiske et al., 1996; Schnetzler and McHone, 1995; Izokb
southeast Asia, from Hainan Island, China to southern Vietnam, a and An, 1983). In addition, we hoped to carry out controlled
region of perhaps 106 km2 (Schnetzler, 1992). They reach larger excavations of large layered tektite deposits around the village of
sizes, are blocky and fragmental in shape, and show wider variations Muong Nong. In particular, we investigated the claim of a large
in composition. These layered tektites are generally believed to lie deposit of layered tektites in this area, reported to us by Dr. Rob
relatively close to the impact site. Crossley, a geologist with Simon Petroleum Technology in Wales,

757
758 Fiske et al.

who obtained an 1 1 kg layered tektite from the site (villagers EXPEDITION METHODOLOGY
discovered the tektites in a Vietnam-era bomb crater) and provided
Our expedition traveled east from Savannakhet, Laos, to Tam
us with a photograph of the tektite miners.
Ky, Vietnam (Fig. I). Our Lao and Vietnamese geologist colleagues
PAST FIELD INVESTIGATIONS directed us to tektite-bearing localities and we received additional
assistance from local villagers (Table I). At three sites, we carried
Reports of splash-form tektites from Southeast Asia were
out semi-controlled excavations, measuring out and excavating 2 x 2
published in the western literature as early as the mid-1800s.
or 1 x 2 m areas and mapping the location of all tektite fragments.
However, these curious rocks were well known to the peoples of
At site 3 and 5 , we sieved the soil excavated from each square using
southeast Asia long before then and appear to have been of objects
a 0.5 cm screen. Sieving using a 0.2 cm screen failed to uncover
of interest as far back as the Neolithic (Loofs, 1977).
many smaller tektite fragments other than chips produced during our
Layered tektites were first described by Lacroix (1935), who
excavations. We estimate that we recovered >95% of the tektite
reported the discovery (by M. J.-H. Hoffet) of a rich deposit of
fragments in the soils that we sieved.
"tektites sans formes figure'es" along the bank of the Se La Nong
(XeLanong) river, in Laos, near the village of Muong Nong. The RESULTS
tektites were found in the upper 10 cm of a lateritic horizon, -1 m We collected a total of 18 kg of tektite fragments from 10
below the surface. Excavation of a 1 m2 area uncovered 362 localities in Laos and Vietnam, including 5 around the village of
fragments weighing a total of 9.7 kg. An adjacent 9 m2 area yielded Muong Nong in eastern Laos. At sites I , 2, 9, and 10, we found
more than 2000 fragments, the largest of which weighed 3.2 kg, tektites on the surface, associated with a pebbly laterite gravel. At
with a total weight of 20.6 kg. In all, 100 m2 yielded 67.5 kg. The sites 7 and 8, we found tektites in fresh exposures of the upper 4 m
tektites were localized in a small area-adjacent areas were devoid of soil (a laterite gravel quarry at site 7 and a road cut at site 8). At
of tektites (Lacroix, 1935). both sites, we found tektites in situ, at or near the top of a pebbly
Barnes (1961) conducted a six-month worldwide field laterite horizon, and overlain by an unconformable layer of recent
investigation of tektites and excavated layered tektites from several sediment.
localities in northeast Thailand. Those that were excavated were At sites 3, 4, 5 , and 6, we carried out controlled or semi-
associated with a laterite horizon similar to that reported by Lacroix controlled excavations in Vietnam War-era bomb craters. Villagers
(1935). However, because of political instability and logistical who had previously excavated tektites from these sites assisted us
difficulties, the Barnes expedition was able to visit only a few and provided details about the size and distribution of the tektites
localities in Vietnam and was unable to return to the discovery they had removed. Adjacent craters appeared to be devoid of
locality in Laos. tektites.
Izokh and An (1983) conducted field investigations of layered At site 3, villagers had excavated -1000 kg of layered tektite
and splash-form tektites throughout Vietnam. They reported 23 fragment-including individual masses over 10 kg-from three
localities where layered tektites were found, including 5 with large small pits dug into the side of a 8 m diameter bomb crater. Based on
(>I kg) pieces. The stratigraphic occurrence of tektites in many of their descriptions and the remains of their digging, we believe this
these localities is similar to that found in Laos and Thailand: deposit was concentrated in only a few square meters and was likely
tektites are found in the upper layer of a laterite horizon, a few a single contiguous mass.
meters below the surface. Ford (1988) confirmed this association at We conducted a series of controlled and semicontrolled
several tektite-bearing localities in northeast Thailand. excavations at site 3 to investigate the extent of layered tektite
In 1994, Wasson and coworkers traveled to the Khourat Plateau fragments and to uncover large masses of tektite fragments in situ.
in northeastThailand and recovered tektites from 18 localities We dug two 2 x 2 m squares in the northern and southern edge of
(Wasson et al., 1995). Tektites were found in the upper
part of a pebbly laterite horizon that is exposed on slopes
or in quarries where the laterite is excavated for road
gravel. On this expedition, Fiske and coworkers
conducted a controlled excavation of a deposit of layered
tektite fragments near the village of Hui Sai in northeast
Thailand (Fiske et al., 1996). In a 3 x 3 m2, they
recovered >I100 fragments with a total mass of 6 kg.
The distribution and stratigraphic occurrence of the
fragments was essentially identical to the deposits
described by Lacroix (l935), Barnes and Pitakpaivan
(l962), and Ford (1988). Fiske (1996) proposed that
layered tektites were impact-melt analogs to lava bombs,
which landed hot and fragmented during cooling.
Schnetzler and McHone (1 995) investigated tektite
localities in west-central Laos, east of Savannakhet.
They found tektites in situ at three sites, confirmed the
stratigraphic association of tektites with a pebbly laterite Longitude ("E)
horizon, and confirmed that only layered tektites are FIG. 1. Map of central Indochina showing area where the expedition took place. The
found in this area. actual route of the expedition is marked with a heavy black line.
 Layered tektites of southeast Asia: Field studies in central Laos and Vietnam 759

TABLE1. Localities visited by this expedition

Site Number Location Description
1 N 16"50'29.92" East of the district office in the town of Ban Thatkoted. Pebbly laterite horizon is exposed at the surface. Seven
E 105"20'13.99" pieces of layered tektite with a total mass of 100 g recovered, including one rounded fragment 4 x 4 x 2 cm.
2 N 16"38'00.89" Located 6 km east and south of the Xangxoy River, where it crosses highway 9 (near Ban Phalan). Pebbly laterite
E 105"36'55.77" is at the surface in a few places in a wooded area. Four small pieces recovered with a total mass of 10 g.
3 N 16O22.336' Located 400 m north-northwest of the village of Ban Ta KO, -40 m off of a dirt path in a wooded area. Villagers
E 106"27.595' removed -1000 kg of layered tektites from a large bomb crater. Our controlled excavations in three squares
yielded a total of 1964 fragments of layered tektite with a total mass of 3.9 kg.
4 N 16O22.434' Located 1.5 km east of Ban Ta KO in a heavily cratered area that was cleared for farming. Villagers found a few
E 106O28.364' large layered tektites in a mud-filled bomb crater while prospecting for bomb shrapnel. We found seven large
fragments with a total mass of 75Og at the surface and >lo0 pieces with a total mass of 3.1 kg buried in the crater
fill. Some of these were intensely fractured, presumably by the bomb blast. A semicontrolled excavation
into the west side of the crater wall exposed a red, clay-rich horizon of partially lateritized soil that contained
>70 tektite fragments with a total mass of 2.8 kg. All excavations at this site yielded a total of 222 fragments of
layered tektite with a total mass of 6.6 kg.
N 16"22.217' Located 1 km east of Ban Ta KO and -40 m west of the "Old Salavan Road" in an area recently cleared by
E 106"27.883' farmers. Villagers found a few large layered tektites in a large bomb crater while prospecting for bomb shrapnel.
Our semicontrolled excavation yielded 68 fragments of layered tektite with a total mass of 1.9kg.
N 16O23.633' Located 2 km north of Muong Nong, -30 m from the main road into town. A farmer removed 200+ kg of
E 106"30.00' tektites from a large bomb crater that he enlarged to make a water reservoir. We found numerous tektites in the
white saturated sand that formed the walls of the reservoir. We recovered a total of 1.1 kg of tektite fragments.
7 N 16"22.800' Located 500 m north of the entrance to Muong Nong, 20 m east of the main road. We found 10 pieces of layered
E 106"30.00' tektite with a total mass of 250 g on the surface of a large laterite quarry including one large fragment 11 x 4 x 3 cm.
We also found two small pieces in sifu at the top of the pebbly laterite horizon exposed in the walls of the quarry.
8 N 16O40.71' Located 7 km north of Khe Sahn along a cobblestone road. We found 86 layered tektite fragments with a total
E 106"42.33' mass of 500 g in a soil horizon rich in quartzite clasts in a 100 m roadcut. Layered tektite fragments were
concentrated in the upper 10 cm of the pebbly horizon.
9 N 15O32.29' Located 5 km west-southwest of the city of Tam Ky, on the north side of the main road. We found 12 fragments
E 108"27.22' of layered tektite with a total mass of 40 g along the border of a large laterite quarry.
10 N IS"32.70' Located 3 km west of the city of Tam Ky. We found 117 tektite fragments (all but one appear layered) with a
E 108"29.00' total mass of 1.4kg at the site of a large graveyard. The tektites were found at the surface, associated with a
pebbly laterite gravel. We recovered tektite fragments over a roughly 200 x 100 m area.

the crater. We excavated the southern square to a depth of 1.2 m,
exposing a 20-60 cm thick layer of crater fill (in which we found
2.5 kg of tektite fragments) resting on top of a layer of soil devoid of
tektites or pebbles. At a depth of 1 m, we encountered a layer of
pebbly, partially lateritized soil. We found 400 g of layered tektite
fragments in the upper 20 cm of this pebbly horizon.
We dug a third 2 x 2 m square -2 m outside the crater rim to the
northeast. The upper 80 cm consisted of a sandy soil devoid of
tektites or pebbles. Below this was a pebbly horizon, similar to that
encountered in the second square, in which we found 50 g of tektite
fragments.
DISCUSSION
Extent of "Layered-Only" Region
We found only layered tektites in central Laos. This confirms
previous observations (Schnetzler and McHone 1995) and suggests
that the region of "layered-only'' tektites may extend from northeast
Thailand through Laos and into central Vietnam. Figure 2 shows all
known and reported tektite locations in central Indochina, and our
current estimate of the extent of the "layered only" region. We have
separated the sites into two categories: "finds"-sites where tektites
were actually dug up by an investigator, and "reports"-sites where
tektites were reportedly found, but investigators did not actually find
the samples (e.g.,tektites were purchased from locals who said they
were found at a particular site). There are 28 "find sites within the
area designated as "layered only", plus another 9 "reported" sites.
Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Muong Nong tektites have been
recovered from this region, but not a single splash-form tektite. The
area of our "layered-only'' region as presently known is -50 000 kmz.
We indicate on Fig. 2 those regions where the boundary between
the "layered only" region and the mixed Muong Nong and splash-
form tektite region seems well defined (solid line), where it is less
well defined (dashed line), and where it is poorly defined (dotted
line). In northeast Thailand, the sites containing both layered and
splash-form varieties define a relatively sharp boundary. In much of
Laos and Vietnam, the boundary is poorly defined, largely due to an
absence of data.
Distribution and Size of Tektite Deposits
The presence of large masses of tektite fragments in some bomb
craters, and the paucity of tektite fragments in other areas, suggests
that tektites are isolated deposits of impact melt and do not form a
continuous melt or debris sheet. Our excavation at site 3 clearly
shows that the original deposit of tektite glass is highly localized:
one pit dug by villagers yielded >700 kg of tektite fragments,
whereas our excavation only 5 m away yielded only 50 g. This
confirms observations reported by Lacroix (1939, Barnes and
Pitakpaivan (1962), and Fiske (1996) that layered tektites are highly
localized and appear to be individual masses that were fragmented
after deposition. There is no evidence to suggest that these deposits
formed a melt sheet or puddle, as proposed by Wasson (1995).
Based on our interviews with villagers, photographic evidence,
and our excavations at site 3, we believe the evidence is good that
the tektite deposit originally located at site 3 was at least 1000 kg in
760
18
17
h
v
i?
a,
16
.-
c
c qualitative observation that the abundance of tektites is
m
-I
15
14
104 105 106 107
Longitude ("E)
FIG 2 Map of central Indochina with all known and reported tektite localities marked
We distinguish between "finds"-localities where tektites were found by investigators,
and "reports"-localities where layered tektites were reported but not confirmed by
investigators The boundary of the layered-only region is marked with a solid line where
it is well constrained, a dashed line where the constraint is poor. and a dotted line where
little or no data exist
mass and was highly localized within a few square meters. Most of
this mass may have represented a single contiguous block that
fragmented after cooling. This is more than lox larger than any
previously reported and may place important new constraints on the
formation and transport of layered tektites. For example, if layered
tektites are analogous to lava bombs ejected from a single large
crater, as proposed by Fiske ( 1 996), it appears that masses of impact
melt as large as 1 ton were transported considerable distances-
perhaps several hundred kilometers, if the crater lies off the coast of
Vietnam, as proposed by several workers (e.g.,Schnetzler et a/., 1988).
Abundance of Tektites
By any measure, the abundance of tektites around the town of
Muong Nong, Laos, seems to be exceptional. However, there are
several factors that contribute to this, only one of which, the original
abundance, is germane. One factor that contributes to the discovery
of so many tektites is that the pebbly laterite horizon in which
tektites are found is well developed in this area, probably a result of
the low topographic gradient in this area. Second, the tektite-
bearing horizon is within 1 m or so of the surface and is exposed in
the myriad bomb craters as well as along stream and river banks.
Third, this area is moderately populated relative to much of rural
Laos and, like most of rural Laos, the population is poor. Metal is
sought to make tools, and their technique for probing for shrapnel in
the countless bomb craters in the region is also well suited for
uncovering tektites. Deconvolving these factors in order to derive a
quantification of abundance is difficult if not impossible.
Fiske et al.
Some measure of absolute tektite abundance can be
made for site 8 in Vietnam. In this area, the tektite-
bearing horizon is recently exposed in a road cut and, to
the best of our knowledge, the tektites have been left in
place. Roughly 10 cm of the tektite-bearing horizon is
exposed in the steep slope of the road cut. We sampled
100 m of road cut, of which 50% was covered by
vegetation. Estimating that -0.1 m2 of tektite-bearing
horizon is exposed in each meter of section we
examined, and assuming that we found all the tektites,
we recovered 500 g of tektites from 5 m2, or 100 g/m2.
In comparison, the tektite abundance in northeast
Thailand measured from one exposure similar to site 8 is
2-20 g/m2 (Fiske et al., 1996). This confirms our
higher in Vietnam than in northeast Thailand.
Stratigraphic Occurrence of Tektites
Our excavations in Laos and site visits in Vietnam
confirm previous reports that the tektites are found at the
top of a lag gravel. In the area of central Laos, the lag
deposit is made up predominantly of indurated pebbles
of laterite and minor quartz and lithic clasts. In Vietnam,
a variety of lag deposits are found including laterite (site
9, 10) and quartzite (site 8). Where lag deposits were
absent or poorly developed we were unable to find any
108 tektites. We also investigated one locality of abundant
fluvial gravels in central Vietnam and were unable to
find any tektites.
The stratigraphic age of tektites has been a source of
considerable misunderstanding. Evidence from northeast
Thailand (Fiske et al., 1996) and from this expedition
clearly shows that the tektites are not in a
chronostratigraphic horizon but lie at the top of a lag
deposit that may have been buried and reexposed several times since
the tektites were deposited. Commingled carbonaceous material in
tektite deposits in Vietnam have been dated and give I lolocene ages
(Izokh and An, 1988), probably corresponding to the latest episode
of reburial.
CONCLUSIONS
The southeast Asian tektite strewn field represents a uniquely
well-preserved ejecta deposit from a recent large meteorite impact
on Earth. The presence of a subfield containing only layered
tektites, and the possibility that individual masses may be as large as
1 ton, may provide important constraints on the physical and
chemical processes that take place during impact-melt formation and
ejection. Many past investigators have focused largely on the
geochemistry of these enigmatic rocks. Although travel in this
region has, until recently, been nearly impossible, our experience
demonstrates that field-based research, especially in collaboration
with southeast Asian scientists, is quite feasible. Our fieldwork in
southeast Asia to date suggests that valuable insights into impact
processes may be gained from a more careful consideration of the
provenance, abundance, and geographical variation of southeast
Asian tektites.
Acknowledgments-The authors are grateful to the Laos Department of
Geology and Mines (Vientiane); its director, Dr. Manomay Vilaihongs; and
Deputy Director (Project Lao), Mr. Oudom Phommachanh for hosting and
assisting the expedition while in Laos. Additional geological assistance from
Dr. Phengta Philakhamponh, the Department of Geology and Mines
(Savannakhet), and the Science Technology Environment National Organization
 Layered tektites of southeast Asia: Field studies in central Laos and Vietnam
(Savannakhet) are gratcfiilly appreciated. Logistical support and advice on
safety were supplied by the I1 S. Embassy in Vientiane (Hon. Wendy
Chainiberlain. Ambassador) and the Department of Defense Joint Task Force
for Full Accounting (Gcii. ‘l’crry Tucker, Commander) Critical equipment
and field support in Laos was provided by Mr. Somphone Bounphakhom
(Phonepasud I lotel, Savannakhet). We also appreciate field information
provided by Mr. Surasit Areesiri (Thai-Laos Lignite Co. Ltd.) and Mr.
Souksamay Chanthamath (Geological Survey Unit, Pakse, Laos). Critical
field and logistical support in Vietnam was provided by the Vietnam
National Center for Scicnccs and Technology-Institute of Geological
Sciences. The authors are grateful to Dr. Nguyen Trong Ycm (Chairman)
and Dr. Dinh Van Toan (Deputy Director) for their assistance. Assistance in
coordinating this expedition and providing logistical support in Thailand was
provided by Dr. Prinya Putthapiban and Dr. Kaset Pitakpaivan (Department
of Mineral Resources, Bangkok) and Mr. Boonman Poonyathiro. This
expedition was supported by the National Geographic Society. Samples
from this expedition will be archived at the Smithsonian National Museum of
Natural History in Washington D.C. Part of this work was performed under
the auspices or the U.S. Department of Energy by the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory tindcr contract number W-7405-ENG-48.
Edrtorrnl hundlmg: S R Taylor
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