igneous

Tektite (likely Indochinite)

Tektite (high-silica impact glass)

Hardness: 5.5-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Black, dark brown to translucent olive green in thin sections; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.3-2.5.

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to dull

Identified March 30, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from terrestrial debris ejected into the atmosphere during a meteorite impact and flash-melted into glass. Found in specific strewn fields (e.g., Australasian strewn field), with ages ranging from 780,000 years to 35 million years depending on the location.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for gemstone jewelry, metaphysical collecting, and scientific study of meteorite impact events.

Geological facts

Tektites are not meteorites themselves, but Earth rocks transformed by an impact. The name comes from the Greek word 'tektos' meaning molten. They are among the driest rocks on Earth, containing almost no water.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the pitted 'pustulated' surface (lechatelierite inclusions), glassy texture, and aerodynamic shapes (buttons, teardrops, or splash forms). Commonly found in Southeast Asia, Australia, and parts of Europe and North America.

Other igneous specimens

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

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Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous

Magnetite

Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4)

mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Blue Apatite

Apatite (Group), Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral