Tektite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Assianir" title="User:Assianir">Assianir</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameTektite
Chemical FormulaPrimarily SiO2 with Al2O3, FeO, MgO, CaO, K2O, Na2O (variable composition)
Mohs Hardness5.5
Crystal Systemamorphous
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite to colorless
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.3
Colorsblack, dark brown, dark green
Transparencytranslucent to opaque
Type LocalityPhilippines (Philippinites), Czech Republic (Moldavites), Australia (Australites), Indochina (Indochinites)
Mineral GroupNatural Glass / Impactite
Usesscientific study, collector's items, jewelry
Description
The image displays various tektites, including dark, irregularly shaped Philippinites with pitted surfaces, and elongated, dark green Moldavites with characteristic sculpted textures.
Geological Context
Tektites are natural glass objects formed from terrestrial rock melted by the extreme heat and pressure of a large meteorite impact, ejected into the atmosphere, and rapidly cooled as they fell back to Earth.
