Philippinite 20,6g – Luzon, Philippines
Locality: Luzon, Philippines
Weight: 20,6g
Dimensions: 5,5 x 1,7 x 1,5 cm
| Category: | Philippinite |
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Philippinite – tektite from the Philippines
Philippinite is a rare tektite originating from the Philippines, formed by a meteorite impact approximately 790,000 years ago. During the impact, the surface rock melted and was ejected high into the atmosphere, where it solidified and fell back to Earth in the form of natural glass. Philippinites are part of the Australasian tektite strewn field.
Localities
Philippinites are found on several islands of the Philippine archipelago – primarily on Luzon (provinces of Rizal and Quezon), as well as on the islands of Samar, Leyte, Mindoro, and Mindanao. These regions are known as the main sources of Philippinites and belong to the richest tektite localities in the world.
Appearance and properties
Philippinites have a black to dark brown color and a non-transparent, pitted surface formed by aerodynamic melting during their passage through the atmosphere. They are known for their varied shapes – ranging from drop-shaped and oval to disk-like or irregular forms. The surface is usually matte, featuring a typical texture of small craters. Their chemical composition consists mainly of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) with admixtures of alumina, iron, and trace elements.