Small pieces, 1-2 cm

Tektite is a glassy material (technically, not a mineral, as there is no geological process), formed as a result of massive meteorite impact with the Earth.

Indochinite originates in the former French colonies of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia), as well as Thailand and southern China. Chemical analysis shows that it contains a number of included chemical elements, the largest percentage being iron (over 40% in some pieces) and aluminium. It is believed to be the result of the impact of a diffuse extra-terrestrial object, such as a comet, rather than a direct impact from a meteorite. This may explain why there is no known impact crater, why it has a large strewnfield, and why, unlike other tektites, the material’s chemical analysis results vary from the centre of the field to its outer edges.