Impactites

Indochinite is a variety of the mineral tektite, which is a natural glass formed by the intense heat and pressure of a meteorite impact.  These tektites are usually found as small, aerodynamically shaped objects, often teardrop or irregular in shape, resulting from the molten material solidifying as it cooled rapidly after being ejected from the impact site.

Indochinites are believed to have formed around 780,000 to 800,000 years ago, following a significant meteorite impact event that likely created the Southeast Asian tektite strewn field.  The strewn field is quite large, and the tektites can be found scattered over a vast area which includes Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.   

This piece displays very well, showing multiple characteristics of its origin.  The specimen has a weigh of 51 grams and dimensions of 45x32x23.  Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Here we have for you an amazing 1.2 grams premium shaped Irghizite Tektite from the Zhamanshi Crater in Kazakhstan. Its Dimensions are 28x8x5 mm.  These specimen were first found in 2003 and date back 900,000 ± 100,000 years.

This stretched and twisted Irghizite is typical of this material. Unlike other Tektites which can be found hundreds of miles from their point of origin, this is found in and around the crater formed by the impacting body.  In this case it is speculated to be of cometary origin due to analysis of the elements contained within the Irghizites and other impactite found in the crater which are called Zhamanshinite.

This piece displays very well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin.  Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes in a small specimen box and with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Here we have for you an amazing 2.08 grams superbly shaped Irghizite Tektite from the Zhamanshi Crater in Kazakhstan. Its Dimensions are 23x10x7 mm.  These specimen were first found in 2003 and dates back 900,000 ± 100,000 years.

This stretched and twisted Irghizite is typical of this material. Unlike other Tektites which can be found hundreds of miles from their point of origin, this is found in and around the crater formed by the impacting body.  In this case it is speculated to be of cometary origin due to analysis of the elements contained within the Irghizites and other impactite found in the crater which are called Zhamanshinite.

This piece displays very well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin.  Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Here we have for you a large 37.3 grams superbly shaped Indochinite Tektite from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. Although not a meteorite, tektite is directly linked to them or their impacts, just consider its age of around 780,000 years old.

Tektite can still be interesting because of the persistent mystery has that resisted clear explanations of their creation for generations of geologists. Dimensions are 60x22x21 mm. 

This piece displays very well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin.  Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Here we have for you a large 51 grams superbly shaped Indochinite Tektite from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. Although not a meteorite, tektite is directly linked to them or their impacts, just consider its age of around 780,000 years old.

Tektite can still be interesting because of the persistent mystery has that resisted clear explanations of their creation for generations of geologists. Dimensions are 47x38x32 mm. 

This piece displays very well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin.  Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Here we have for you a large 39 grams superbly shaped Indochinite Tektite from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. Although not a meteorite, tektite is directly linked to them or their impacts, just consider its age of around 780,000 years old.

Tektite can still be interesting because of the persistent mystery has that resisted clear explanations of their creation for generations of geologists. Dimensions are 37x34x28 mm. 

This piece displays very well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin.  Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Here we have for you a large 40.22 grams superbly shaped Indochinite Tektite from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. It measures 44x31x32 mm.  Although not a meteorite, tektite is directly linked to them or their impacts, just consider its age of around 780,000 years old.

Tektite can still be interesting because of the persistent mystery which has resisted clear explanation of their creation for generations of geologists.

These specimen are sometimes found with chips, which is normal since they are glass objects of great age. This is the case with this specimen, as you can see in the photos, there are minor chips.  As a result, we are offering this great specimen at a reduced price. This piece still displays very well and is a nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin.  Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

This is a gorgeous 111 grams perfectly shaped natural untreated Indochinite Tektite from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. It is almost a perfect round shape at 55x52x27 mm. Although not a meteorite, tektite is directly linked to them or their impacts, just consider its age of around 780,000 years old.

Tektite can still be interesting just because of the persistent mystery that resisted clear explanations of their creation for generations of geologists. 

This piece displays extremely well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin. It is a perfect shape with a beautiful, pitted body. Would make a beautiful addition to any collection or start one today.

This is a nice 45.34 gram natural untreated Indochinite Tektite from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. It is almost round at 40x32x29mm in size. Although not a meteorite, tektite is directly linked to them or their impacts, just consider its age of around 780,000 years old.

Tektite can still be interesting just because of the persistent mystery that resisted clear explanations of their creation for generations of geologists.

This piece displays very well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin. It has a rounded shape with a beautiful pitted body. Would make a beautiful addition to any collection or start one today.

This is a nicely shaped Australite Tektite weighing 0.426 gram. Australites are small, hard to find and highly desirable.

Tektites are natural glass of meteoric origin that are found between a narrow equatorial belt of 80 degrees wide. They are often referred to as being from "the moon" or "shooting stars", which they are not. A meteor/comet impact forced molten meteorite/earth up into the atmosphere where it quickly cooled and returned to the earth after their short visit to space, raining Tektites!

The name tektites comes from the greek word "tektos", which means melted. They are unusual, irregularly or at times intricately shaped piece of silica-rich glass. They have no crystal structure, and are therefore similar to obsidian but are not associated with volcanic formation process.

Tektites exhibit a number of meteoritic features, including ablation and atmospheric melting, flight orientation, some have been tied to certain strewn fields, are very different from native rocks, sometime nickel-iron is found in some and more. However, they don't have the isotopic characteristics of a long period of time in outer space and also lack the cosmic ray exposure.

At one time they where even quite common, however tons of them were used during the 80's for lapidary faceting. Metaphysical people have also long used tektites for channeling energy in various ways.

Australites are found mainly south of the 25 degree latitude line with most of them having been recovered in Western Australia. The largest Australite was found near Notting Western Australia and weighs 437 grams. Potassium-argon dating of specimens from tektites from China, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines all date about the same as Australites suggesting a single origin. However, there is evidence suggesting that Australites have a younger age and are from a different meteorite impact. Australites are also found in South Australia in soil layers about 20,000 years old, while in the Victoria in layers about 12,000 years old and sometimes in sediments as low as 5,000 years old. There is also a discrepancy in radiometric and stratigraphic test ages.

Another convincing fact is that Australites are better preserved then the other known tektites. They became known to the English settlers in the 1830's. However, the Aboriginals tribes have collected them for many years before this. Some believed they had metaphysical healing powers thought to cure wounds, sickness, and disease. Other Aboriginals utilized the tektite glass for weapons and tools.

This piece displays extremely well and is a quality translucent specimen (as show in the last two pictures, which are backlit). It has an aesthetic shape and would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card and a signed Mark Bostick Collection card.

Here we have for you a large 54 gram superbly shaped Indochinite Tektite from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. It measures 63x35x18 mm.  Although not a meteorite, tektite is directly linked to them or their impacts, just consider its age of around 780,000 years old.

Tektite can still be interesting because of the persistent mystery has that resisted clear explanations of their creation for generations of geologists. 

This piece displays very well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin. It is a perfect elongated shape with a beautiful pitted body. Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Here we have for you a large 37 gram superbly shaped Indochinite Tektite from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. It measures 53x22x25 mm.  Although not a meteorite, tektite is directly linked to them or their impacts, just consider its age of around 780,000 years old.

Tektite can still be interesting because of the persistent mystery has that resisted clear explanations of their creation for generations of geologists. 

This piece displays very well and is a very nice size showing multiple characteristics of its origin. It is a perfect elongated shape with a beautiful pitted body. Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.