Metal spherules in Wabar, Monturaqui, and Henbury impactites

The Fe, Ni, and Co contents of 450 spherules with diameters of 3 to 100 microns in impact glasses from three terrestrial meteorite craters are determined by electron microprobe analysis. The objects investigated include 250 spherules from Wabar (Saudi Arabia) impactite and 100 each from Monturaqui (Chile) and Henbury (Australia) impactites. The specimens and spherules are described, noting that the Wabar and Henbury craters were produced in sandstone while the Monturaqui crater was formed in siliceous igneous rocks and has an enigmatic sulfide abundance. It is found that the spherules are enriched in Ni and Co relative to the original meteorite Fe content and are enriched in Ni relative to Co for Ni contents greater than 50%. The results indicate that, on the average, Henbury spherules are more Ni-enriched than Monturaqui spherules, and Wabar spherules exhibit the least Ni-enrichment. It is suggested that the spherules could have formed without experiencing free flight and that instantaneous dissemination of meteoritic material at the meteorite-target contact was the major fractionation process.