Indochinite (Tektite)
Indochinite is named after the region of the incident; the former French colonies of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) but also present in Thailand and southern China. These Tektites are usually dark brown to black glass that is natural.
Indochinites act like other Tektites such as Libyan Desert Glass and Moldavite. Tektites may be Silica that is meteoric Glass a result of the impact of a meteor on the planet. Tektites are often present in association with meteor impact craters or suspected craters that are ancient. Their origin is not fully understood. The idea that is leading the “Meteorite Impact Theory”, is that when a meteorite hits the planet earth, the warmth and stress associated with an impact are incredibly great so it causes rock and sand to be fused into cup or Tektites. Tektites, as with any cups that are normal contain gas bubbles and “swirl” like inclusions.
| Crystallography: | Amorphous (natural glass) |
| Crystal Habit: | n/a |
| Cleavage: | None |
| Fracture: | Conchoidal, Sub-conchoidal |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Moh’s Hardness: | 5.5 – 6.5 |
| Density: | 2.21 – 2.96 (g/cm3) |
| Radioactivity: | Not Radioactive |
| Color: | Dark Brown, Black |
| Transparency: | Translucent to Opaque |
| Luster: | Vitreous |
| Refractive Index: | 1.46 – 1.54 Isotropic |
| Birefringence: | 0.00 (Isotropic) |
| Dispersion: | n/a |
| Pleochroism: | n/a |
