Pica glass 0,2g – Atacama desert, Chile
Locality: Atacama desert, Chile
Weight: 0,2g
Dimensions: 1,1 x 0,9 x 0,1 cm
Packaging: transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
| Category: | Pica glass |
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Pica Glass – Natural Glass from the Atacama Desert
Pica glass is a natural glass originating from the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, near the town of Pica. Its occurrence has been documented at several sites along a stretch approximately 75 kilometres long. Individual specimens may display irregular shapes, folds and other structures formed as the original material melted and subsequently cooled.
Formed by the Explosion of a Cosmic Body?
According to a scientific study published in 2021, this natural glass may have formed during the explosion of a cosmic body in the atmosphere above the Atacama Desert. The study's authors point to deformations in the glass and transformations of certain minerals.
However, the exact mechanism of its formation has not yet been conclusively established.