igneous
Indochinite Tektite
Tektite (high-silica impact glass)
Hardness: 5.5-6.5; Color: Jet black (opaque), thin edges may show olive-brown; Luster: Vitreous to sub-vitreous; Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline glass); Cleavage: Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.4-2.5
- Hardness
- 5
- Color
- Jet black (opaque), thin edges may show olive-brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to sub-vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5.5-6.5; Color: Jet black (opaque), thin edges may show olive-brown; Luster: Vitreous to sub-vitreous; Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline glass); Cleavage: Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.4-2.5
Formation & geological history
Formed from molten terrestrial debris ejected into the atmosphere during a meteorite impact approximately 780,000 years ago (Pleistocene). They cooled rapidly during reentry and fell across the Indochinese strewn field.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for gemstone jewelry, metaphysical collecting, and scientific study of impact events.
Geological facts
Tektites are not meteorites themselves but are terrestrial rocks melted and flung into orbit/atmosphere by a meteorite strike. The Indochinite field is part of the largest strewn field on Earth, covering Southeast Asia and Australia.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the characteristic 'pitted' or 'dimpled' surface texture (sculpting) caused by atmospheric ablation and absence of internal crystals. Commonly found in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China.
