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Column: Norm’s Tektite Teasers

Atmospheric Time Capsules!

May 1, 2013

Atmospheric Time Capsules!

What are the chances of finding a sample of earth atmosphere that was sealed in a very high-purity glass capsule with centimeter thick walls 780,000 years ago? A pristine sample before mankind had done anything to modify the air—no industrial revolution, no nukes, and no fluorocarbons. Homo erectus was still struggling to tame a campfire. [...]

Column: Norm's Tektite Teasers

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A folded Lei gong mo tektite

March 1, 2013

A folded Lei gong mo tektite

Every year after the big Tucson show, people ask : “what was your favorite tektite find ?” (We also look forward to this answer; we go to Tucson wondering what new treasure we will find!) Here it is. Tucson Tektite 2013. We spent days sorting through every box and bin of tektites we could find, [...]

Column: Norm's Tektite Teasers

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Tektite Tori???

January 1, 2013

Tektite Tori???

I was recently forwarded a journal article dealing with tektite shapes (Stauffer & Butler, 2010) in which it is postulated that toroid-like (doughnut-like) forms are a logical end-point of radial flow and consequent central-thinning of a tektite disk spinning like a frisbie. A torus is to a revolving spheroid what teardrops are to rods and [...]

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Australite Indicator Core

November 1, 2012

Australite Indicator Core

Upon first introduction to an Australite ablation core it is a common error to confuse the anterior and posterior surfaces. The always present smoothly rounded surface is very suggestive of the frontal shield on an oriented chondrite, but this impression is incorrect. As Australites made their final plunge through the atmosphere, the frontal surface heated [...]

Column: Norm's Tektite Teasers

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Tiny Aussie “dish”

September 1, 2012

Tiny Aussie “dish”

Usually bragging rights go to the monsters, but there’s a tiny end of the spectrum that deserves respect as well. I suppose there exists a full gradational transition from macro- to microtektites, but at the scale readily discerned by the naked eye, this is the smallest complete Australite in our collection. This morphology is well-known, [...]

Column: Norm's Tektite Teasers

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Javanite “Fire Pearls”

August 1, 2012

Javanite “Fire Pearls”

Part of the Australasian tektite event, Javanites are characterized by deep intricate etching and a brilliant gloss. Known as “Agni Mani” in Sanskrit (roughly translated as “Fire Pearls”), the fabled Javan tektites have a rich cultural lore collected in an entertaining book by Latvian Baron Richard J.H. de Touche-Skadding. (Agni Mani: Magic Gem from the [...]

Column: Norm's Tektite Teasers

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Anda Philippinite

July 1, 2012

Anda Philippinite

Here is a classic Anda tektite from northwestern Pangasinan Province, Republic of the Philippines. This specimen shows the trademark bowtie or flower ornamentation reminiscent of rodent chew marks common to this region. There are also Thailandites with Anda-like ornamentation (and they are often inappropriately offered on Ebay as “Anda tektites”; to merit the name genuine [...]

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Georgiaite Teardrop

June 1, 2012

Georgiaite Teardrop

This particularly fine Georgiaite teardrop is pictured in two Georgia mathematics textbooks. It was found January 25, 2003 near Riddleville, Washington County, Georgia, almost exactly 500 miles southwest of the generally accepted 34.5 ma impact site in what is now Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. A little over 2000 Georgiaites are known with a total weight in [...]

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TEKTITE THESES, THEMES, TROPHIES, & TRIVIA: Dragon Tracks!

May 1, 2012

TEKTITE THESES, THEMES, TROPHIES, & TRIVIA: Dragon Tracks!

This spectacular Thailandite from the Khorat Plateau region of northeastern Thailand, exhibits exceptionally well-developed skin splits. These formed after the skin had cooled sufficiently to react in a brittle manner while the interior remained soft and gooey. When this water balloon-like blob splatted, the skin split open revealing the viscous interior. Note the contrast in [...]

Column: Norm's Tektite Teasers

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