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Indochinite (Tektite)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Tektite

Chemistry:  SiO2 (75% Silica + Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ti)

Discovery: unknown;   IMA status: Not Valid
Indochinite is named after the region of occurrence; the former French colonies of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) but also found in Thailand and southern China.

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Mineraloids

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

n/a

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

n/a

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Amorphous (natural glass)

Crystal Habit:

n/a

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

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

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

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

 

 

Occurances

   

   

Geological Setting:

Meteor impact zones

Type Locality:

The former French colonies of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) but also found in Thailand and southern China

Year Discovered:

n/a

View mineral photos:

Indochinite Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org  (Indochinite)
Mindat.org
 (Tektite)

 

 


Indochinite is named after the region of occurrence; the former French colonies of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) but also found in Thailand and southern China.  These Tektites are usually dark brown to black natural glass.

Indochinites are similar to other Tektites such as Libyan Desert Glass and Moldavite. Tektites may be Meteoric Silica Glass as a result of the impact of a meteor on Earth. Tektites are usually found in association with meteor impact craters or suspected ancient craters. Their origin is not fully understood. The leading theory, the "Meteorite Impact Theory", is that when a meteorite hits the Earth, the heat and pressure of the impact are so great that it causes rock and sand to be fused into glass or Tektites. Tektites, like all natural glasses, contain gas bubbles and "swirl" like inclusions.
 

  
Indochinite gems for sale:

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