Tektite

Tektites (from Greek Tektos, molten) are up to a few centimeters large glass objects, which indeed are of terrestrial origin, their formation but was caused by the impact of large meteorites on Earth's surface.

By the impact of earthly material is melted and thrown up to a few hundred kilometers, where it solidifies to glass. Although caused by a meteorite impact, the Tektite itself so mortal, and not, as is often claimed, extraterrestrial origin. Color- tektites are black or greenish transparent. The shape varies from aerodynamically rounded, disc-, drop -, or dumbbell-shaped to irregular.

Because of its origins, the localities of tektites associated with impact craters. So those found in the Czech Republic Tektite, Moldavite be named, associated with the Ries. To date, only four stray fields are known worldwide, three of which their respective origins crater could be assigned.

Some types of tektites, grouped according to the four known different scattered fields:

• Moldavite (Czech Republic, greenish)

• Australite (Australia, dark, usually black )
• Indochinite ( Southeast Asia, dark, usually black )
• Chinite (China, black)

• Bediasite ( USA, Texas, black)
• Georgiaites ( USA, Georgia, greenish)

• Ivorite (Ivory Coast, Black)

As Obsidian also Tektite already thousands of years ago for commodities, as jewelry and for religious purposes were used. By meteorite impacts also called Impaktgläser be generated. Unlike Tektiten they are not thrown away, but remain in the vicinity of the crater.