Description
Tektites are pieces of glass of terrestrial origin, named after the Greek word tektos, meaning molten. Libyan glass, found in Libya and Egypt, is light yellow to yellow-green, weighs up to 5 kilograms, and is suitable for faceting.
Because tektites likely formed during meteorite impacts, their occurrence is often limited to relatively small areas, called scattered fields. The best-known tektites come from the Czech Republic, where they are found in the Vltava River region; they are therefore called moldavites. They were discovered in 1788. Numerous tektites have been found in Bohemia and Moravia. Their appearance is distinguished by their shape, color, size, and surface. A connection to a meteorite crater, the Nördlinger Ries in Germany, is suspected. This crater is dated at 14.8 Ma. The tektites weigh from approximately 8 grams to 110 grams. Other localities include Besednice, Lodenice, Habri, Kamenny, Újezd, and Slavče. Moldavites are found in sediments of the Upper Miocene, but also in younger deposits. In Moravia, moldavites are darker, less transparent, and have a smoother surface. However, they are larger and can weigh up to 260 grams. The best-known Moravian deposits are Kajotice, Slavice, Stepanovice, Mohelno, and Dukovany. Moldavites are also sometimes found in Germany near Dresden and in Austria. Other tektites are dark brown to black. The names depend on the deposits: Indochinites are found in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos (Indochina). They are blackish-green, have a smoother surface, and weigh up to 3 kilograms. Philipponite or Rizalite, in the Philippines. Billitonites on the Malay Peninsula and on the islands of Banak, Billiton, and Sumatra. Javaite on Java; these stones are black. Irgizite in Kazakhstan. Australite in Australia. Darwin glass, on the island of Tasmania, which is lighter and suitable for facet cutting. Black Bediasite is found on the American continent, primarily in the United States, specifically in Texas. Dark green Georgianite in Georgia, Peru and Colombia.
