Philippine Tektite – 92.4 grams Philippinite, Meteorite Impact Glass, Bikolite, Rizalite
Bicol Province, Philippines
Just Back from the Philippines with some Fantastic new Bicolites ! Each specimen is highly aesthetic, including this uncommonly large egg-shaped example, weighing 92.4 grams. The main face displays some crossing contraction grooves in an almost triangle pattern. The reverse is well pitted with a nice thumb-print type depression.
Tektites, from the Greek tektos, occurs when an asteroid impacts the Earth and causes terrestrial rocks to liquefy as they are splashed into the upper atmosphere and returns to Earth as solidified glass.
A tektite’s shape is aerodynamically determined by its degree of orientation as it falls back to Earth. As it cools, the molten rock contracts which forms contraction grooves and gas bubbles that leave attractive patterns as the tektite hardens. Both virtues are visible on this current specimen.