Early Archean silicate spherules of probable impact origin, South Africa and Western Australia

Research Article| January 01, 1986 Early Archean silicate spherules of probable impact origin, South Africa and Western Australia Donald R. Lowe; Donald R. Lowe 1Department of Geology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gary R. Byerly Gary R. Byerly 1Department of Geology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Donald R. Lowe 1Department of Geology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 Gary R. Byerly 1Department of Geology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1986) 14 (1): 83–86. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<83:EASSOP>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Donald R. Lowe, Gary R. Byerly; Early Archean silicate spherules of probable impact origin, South Africa and Western Australia. Geology 1986;; 14 (1): 83–86. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<83:EASSOP>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Layers of sand-sized silicate spherules in 3.2 to 3.5 Ga Archean greenstone belts in South Africa and Western Australia formed by the accumulation of quenched liquid silicate droplets having primary compositions resembling those of immediately underlying rock sequences. The layers and particles appear to be unrelated to volcanic activity, and we suggest that both occurrences may represent melt droplets formed during meteorite or comet impacts. If so, these spherules are the oldest known terrestrial impact products. If these objects are representative of a larger population of early Archean impact features, it may be possible to directly estimate the meteorite flux on the early Archean earth. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.