Book Review
by Michael Blood
Tektites: A Cosmic Paradox by Hal Povenmire,
Edited by John A. O'Keefe
Published Privately, 1997
112 pages
In this book, Povenmire tackles two subjects, dividing the book almost evenly between a thorough overview of Georgia tektites in particular and the ongoing debate and unresolved questions as to the origin of tektites in general.
Let's look at the easy part first. The first 47 pages are devoted to Georgia tektites and gives the history of finds, describes the geological context in which they are found, and outlines the counties where they have been found, including a map pinpointing what he calls "the 95% line" - the area in which 95% of all recorded finds have occurred.
Since 1970, the author has conducted nearly 170 field trips to Georgia, collecting specimens in the field, buying them from locals, and painstakingly recording each and every exact location where they were recovered. He has also, Nininger-like, spoken at many high schools, providing information and offering cash "rewards" for recoveries - often to realize the benefits only years later.
In addition to his thorough analysis of the makeup of Georgiaites, his description regarding search conditions, maps, interesting stories, analysis of finds to date, etc, he further includes 7 pages of listings of what seems like everyone who ever found a Georgiaite, often describing the circumstances of recovery. (Some of these renditions are most interesting and entertaining).
When Mr. Povenmire started his research into the area in 1970, there were only some 200 Georgiaites on record and the known strewn field was only 500 square miles. Through Povenmire's extensive research and detailed documentation the number of recorded finds is now some 1,300 specimens and a documented strewn field of over 6,900 square miles.
Without a doubt, Povenmire is THE authority on Georgiaites and this book, were it to contain no further information, would be must reading for anyone interested in Georgiaites. If anyone were hoping to recover one of these charming rarities from the field, this book would be essential.
As for the second half of the book, the last standing theories of tektite origin, namely terrestrial impact and lunar volcanism, are discussed at length, demonstrating very serious problems inherent in each. Perhaps the most striking element in this part of the book is the thoroughness with which Povenmire provides seemingly insurmountable evidence against both theories. This section also contains a three page interview with John O'Keefe, the leading proponent of the lunar volcanism theory, as well as 32 pages of debate between O'Keefe and Billy Glass, one of the leading theorist of the terrestrial impact school. Anyone hoping to resolve, once & for all, the question of origin is likely to be disappointed, but, at least the reader is made aware of the very serious contradictions confronting each school of thought. (Hence, the title of the book)
As a student of O'Keefe, Povenmire must provide his mentor great satisfaction. This portion of the book - indeed, the book in its entirety, is exceptionally well written, informative and intellectually stimulating (if disconcerting). It serves to cover the information which has come to light since O'Keefe's masterpiece of 1976 and includes the disarming evidence Povenmire presented at the May, 1997 conference of the American Geophysical Union which shook the conviction of most of the terrestrial origin adherents present.
A foreword by the great tektite collector, Darryl Futrell, 23 pages of references and five pages of photos serve to enrich this book which will challenge the thinking of all who have assumed certainty of tektite origin and prove invaluable to those who have an interest in American tektites in general and Georgia tektites, in particular.
See this review in a comming issue of Voyage! Book available from me now at $14.95