Indochinite 29,9g – Guangdong, China
Locality: Maoming City – Guangdong, China
Weight: 29,9g
Dimensions: 3,7 x 3,3 x 2,1 cm
| Category: | Indochinite (Guangdong) |
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Indochinite – tektite from Southeast Asia
Indochinite is a type of tektite, a form of natural glass created by the melting of the Earth's crust during a meteorite impact. These tektites are found across Southeast Asia, particularly in southern China (provinces of Guangxi, Yunnan, and Hainan), as well as in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Malaysia. Indochinites are usually dark black to brown, opaque, and their age is estimated to be around 700,000 years.
Origin and crater hypothesis
The Tonle Sap crater in Cambodia is often proposed as a possible parent crater of the indochinites, although this hypothesis has not yet been confirmed. It is located in the area of Lake Tonle Sap, but direct evidence of a connection with the origin of indochinites is still lacking. Some scientific studies suggest that the impact may have occurred elsewhere in Southeast Asia or possibly in the region of the modern South China Sea.
Characteristics
Indochinites are part of the Australasian tektite strewn field, which was formed by an impact approximately 700,000–800,000 years ago. They typically have a pitted surface, often showing aerodynamic shapes formed during their passage through the atmosphere. Because of their appearance and wide distribution, they rank among the most famous tektites in the world and are highly sought after by collectors worldwide.