igneous
Tektite (Indochinite)
Tektite (High-silica impact glass)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs), Color: Dark brown to black (appears opaque), Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to dull, Crystal structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline), Cleavage: Conchoidal fracture, Specific gravity: 2.3-2.5
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs), Color: Dark brown to black (appears opaque), Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to dull, Crystal structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline), Cleavage: Conchoidal fracture, Specific gravity: 2.3-2.5
Formation & geological history
Formed from terrestrial debris ejected into the atmosphere during a high-energy meteorite impact, then cooling rapidly into glass as it falls back to Earth. Indochinites are associated with an impact roughly 780,000 years ago.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for geological research, specimen collecting, and increasingly in jewelry (metaphysical or aesthetic use).
Geological facts
Unlike meteorites, tektites are composed mostly of terrestrial material melted by an impact rather than material from space itself. The Indochinite strewn field is the largest on Earth.
Field identification & locations
Identified by a pitted 'pockmarked' surface, glassy texture, and aerodynamic shapes (tears, buttons, or irregular splashes). Commonly found across Southeast Asia and Australia.
