(meteorobs) "Ancient record of asteroid impact"

[drobnock]

The discussion about an impact in the Kofels region has been around for
some time. Interesting that the connection from a Sumerian Tablet is
opening new interest in the event.

Also see: http://www.physorg.com/news126183668.html

Also for the discussion in 1863 pumice was found in the Kofels region of
Austria. There was discussion about a meteorite impact and possible
volcanic activity. Google for a book called Floods and Landslides:
Integrated Risk Assessment By Riccardo Casale, Claudio Margottini

Also see Bombarded Britain: A Search for British Impact Structures By
Richard Stratford there is a discussion in 1936 about a possible Kofels
Hollow impact during the Pleistocene or Holocene period.

Also referenced --
Fused rock from Köfels, Tyrol
Journal Mineralogy and Petrology
Publisher Springer Wien
ISSN 0930-0708 (Print) 1438-1168 (Online)
Issue Volume 9, Numbers 1-2 / February, 1964
DOI 10.1007/BF01127777
Pages 86-94
Subject Collection Earth and Environmental Science
SpringerLink Date Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Daniel J. Milton1,  (1)  U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, Calif ,
Received: 5 June 1963

Abstract  The vesicular glass from Köfels, Tyrol, contains grains of
quartz that have been partially melted but not dissolved in the matrix
glass. This phenomenon has been observed in similar glasses formed by
friction along a thrust fault and by meteorite impact, but not in
volcanic glasses. The explosion of a small nuclear device buried behind
a steep slope produced a geologic structure that is a good small-scale
model of that at Köfels. Impact of a large meteorite would have an
effect analogous to that of a subsurface nuclear explosion and is the
probable cause of the Köfels feature.

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Zusammenfassung  Der Bimsstein von Köfels, Tirol, enthält Körner von
Quarz, welche teilweise geschmolzen, aber nicht im Mutterglas gelöst
sind. Diese Erscheinung wurde in ähnlichen Gläsern beobachtet, welche
durch Reibung entlang von Rutschverwerfungen und durch
Meteoriteneinschläge entstanden, aber nicht in vulkanischen Gläsern. Die
Explosion eines kleinen nuklearen Gerätes, eingegraben in einem steilen
Abhang, brachte eine geologische Struktur hervor, welche ein gutes
Modell im kleinen Maßstab des Vorganges bei Köfels darstellt. Der
Einschlag eines großen Meteoriten würde einen Effekt hervorrufen, der
analog ist einer unterirdischen nuklearen Explosion, und ist
wahrscheinlich der Grund für die Bildungen von Köfels.

George John Drobnock