Electrical resistivity and viscosity of tektite glass

Abstract

The electrical resistivity of 25 tektites from seven different strewn fields has been measured as a function of temperature from 330–450°K by a time of discharge technique. From these data the activation energy for each specimen has been determined. It is shown that by using an equation similar to that found empirically by Littleton a viscosity curve between 1370 and 1770°K can be constructed. The calculated curve agrees within the limits of error with the experimental curves for several cases. The method can be used to calculate the viscosity within half an order of magnitude of the correct value. Mean viscosity curves are constructed from the experimental data for tektites from the seven known strewn fields.