Tektite

Tektites are natural glasses formed by the intense heat and pressure of meteorite impacts on Earth, resulting in molten rock and sand being ejected into the atmosphere and then rapidly cooling to a glassy state. They are typically found in areas surrounding major impact craters, known as strewn fields.

Key characteristics of tektites:

• Molten rock and sand from a meteorite impact are flung into the air, where they cool and solidify into glassy shapes.
• Tektites often have a droplet or teardrop shape due to the way they solidified while falling through the air. They can be black, green, brown, or gray in color.
• They are primarily composed of silica, with varying amounts of other elements like aluminum, iron, calcium, and magnesium.
• Tektites range in size from millimeters to centimeters.
• They are found in specific areas around impact craters, known as strewn fields, where the molten debris rained down and cooled.