Which term denotes a small glassy particle formed by meteorite impact and found in ocean sediments?

Which term denotes a small glassy particle formed by meteorite impact and found in ocean sediments?

• A. Microtektite
• B. Cosmogenous Sediment
• C. Mineral
• D. Neritic Sediment

Answer: (A)

Microtektites are tiny glassy droplets formed when a meteorite impact melts surrounding rocks, ejects droplets into the atmosphere or ocean, and they cool rapidly to solid glass. Their small size and glassy nature come from rapid cooling, often resulting in spherical or droplet-like particles. When these glassy spherules are very small, they’re termed microtektites, and they’re commonly found in ocean sediments as part of cosmogenous material originating from space. This distinguishes them from minerals (which are crystalline rocks) and from neritic sediments (coastal shelf sediments formed by terrestrial processes).

Microtektites are tiny glassy droplets formed when a meteorite impact melts surrounding rocks, ejects droplets into the atmosphere or ocean, and they cool rapidly to solid glass. Their small size and glassy nature come from rapid cooling, often resulting in spherical or droplet-like particles. When these glassy spherules are very small, they’re termed microtektites, and they’re commonly found in ocean sediments as part of cosmogenous material originating from space. This distinguishes them from minerals (which are crystalline rocks) and from neritic sediments (coastal shelf sediments formed by terrestrial processes).