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Post by snowmom on Mar 5, 2015 8:40:11 GMT -5
People used to think that tektites were all volcanic in nature. Now it has become evident that many of them are impact splash material, thrown melted rock from an impact event. I thought this website had particularly good examples and information. I'm trying to learn to recognize tektites and hope to find some this "hunting season".
www.tektites.co.uk/index.html
Does anybody have tektites to show off?
Note that there are many, many fake tektites (and probably some that are legitimately mis- identified without intent to mislead) I might have a couple tektites in my rock pantry already, more study needed! So far I have avoided deeply textured material as being too difficult to cut and polish. Will be looking at beach rocks in a new way this spring. Supposed to be above freezing for several days this coming week. Getting my rock hunter gear together.
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 5, 2015 11:30:30 GMT -5
Don't have any tektites, snowmom, but there are tektites found in Georgia that are called "Georgiaites." "They are found in part of the 34-million-year-old North American strewnfield coming from the Chesapeake Bay impact crater. Two strewnfields and tektite groups are associated with this impact: the black Bediasites in Texas and the green Georgiaites in Georgia. Georgiaites occur in east-central Georgia, with approximately 1000 specimens found to date. They are splash-form tektites." www.meteoriteassociationofgeorgia.org/gatektiteslist.htmGood luck looking for them when y'all thaw out!
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 5, 2015 17:54:42 GMT -5
This is hopefully a real tektite from China. I bought it from a reputable dealer at our annual rock show. It looks similar to internet photos of what a tektite from China should look like. It feels to be a littler bit heavier that what an equal sized piece of silica based rock would be. Darryl.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,796
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 5, 2015 21:48:12 GMT -5
I have a Moldavite purchased from a very reputable dealer and I'll photograph it ASAP. I have no real way to tell whether it's natural or man-made: I'm reliably informed many Moldavites are not natural but either way it's a very interesting and attractive specimen.
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Post by snowmom on Mar 7, 2015 14:23:17 GMT -5
moldavites are probably the prettiest tektites I can think of- would love to see a picture of that!
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,796
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 7, 2015 21:41:37 GMT -5
snowmom, here's a shot of the Moldavite. It weighs just under 9 ct. I had a prettier one I bought for a friend but didn't photograph it.
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Post by snowmom on Mar 8, 2015 9:07:39 GMT -5
very pretty! I love their green colors! I would think this one is real, fakes tend to be on the impossibly spectacular end of things, don't they? way cool!
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Post by stephan on Mar 29, 2015 11:27:22 GMT -5
Nice specimen.
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