Tektites
  • While other types of meteorites were seen as they streaked across the sky and later found on the ground, history shows no record of tektites associated with the appearance of a meteor. Thus their origin is a bit mysterious.
  • The prevailing theory for quite a while was that tektites were the result of a huge meteoroid or asteroid collision with  the moon; according to this theory, molten debris from the collision was thrown so forcefully off the moon that it eventually solidified and was drawn by gravity down to the Earth's surface.
  • More recently, evidence has emerged indicating that they are the result of a meteorite impact here on Earth. Scientists speculate that the sheer force of the impact created a molten mix of silicate and other materials which splashed high up into the earth's atmosphere, solidified and rained down again in the four parts of the world where tektites are found.
  • Most tektites on the market are from China and moldavites are from Czechoslovakia.

home  I  site map  I  contact us