igneous
Tektite (Indochinite)
Tektite (High-silica impact glass)
Hardness: 5.5-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Black, dark brown (greenish when thin); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous (glassy); Specific gravity: 2.3-2.5; Pitted, bubbly, or aerodynamic surface texture.
- Hardness
- 5
- Color
- Black, dark brown (greenish when thin)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5.5-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Black, dark brown (greenish when thin); Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous (glassy); Specific gravity: 2.3-2.5; Pitted, bubbly, or aerodynamic surface texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed from terrestrial debris ejected during meteorite impacts. The debris undergoes extreme heating and rapid cooling while flying through the atmosphere. The Indochinite strewn field is approximately 780,000 years old.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for collecting, metaphysical healing practices, and occasionally cabochon jewelry or wire-wrapping.
Geological facts
Tektites contain very little water (0.005%) because they were formed under extreme heat and vacuum-like conditions; they are among the driest minerals on Earth. They are often found in specific 'strewn fields' across Southeast Asia and Australia.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its characteristic pitted 'craters' (lechatelierite inclusions), lack of crystals, and its glass-like break (conchoidal fracture). Common in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
