tektite
Meteorite splash debris
A tektite is a small, glassy object formed when a meteorite strikes Earth, melting terrestrial rock and flinging it through the atmosphere.
The molten material cools rapidly into characteristic shapes—spheres, teardrops, dumbbells.
Tektites are found in scattered fields across several continents: Moldavites from central Europe are prized by collectors.
Silicon dioxide compound
- lechatelieriteAmorphous fused quartz
- mineralogyScience of inorganic solids
- petrologyScientific study of rocks
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
stratigraphy · sediment · deposit · potassium-argon · geochemistry · terrestrial · formation · distribution
Impact or volcanic basin
- ejectaMaterial forcibly discharged
- brecciaCemented angular rock fragments
- collisionForceful contact between objects
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
fragmentation · moldavite · dumbbell · teardrop · ablation · aerodynamic · rotation · quench
Detonating meteor, very bright
- fireballLuminous meteor or explosion
- meteoroidSmall body in space
- meteorGlowing atmospheric space rock
- airburstExplosion in the atmosphere
cosmic · extraterrestrial · asteroid impact · comet impact · hypervelocity · vaporization · condensation · fallback
Glass-like in appearance
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- opaqueImpassable to light
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
brittle · amorphous · noncrystalline · silicate · bubble · inclusion · flow line · surface texture
silica
Silicon dioxide compound
- lechatelieriteAmorphous fused quartz
- mineralogyScience of inorganic solids
- petrologyScientific study of rocks
morphology · stratigraphy · sediment · deposit · potassium-argon · geochemistry · terrestrial · formation · distribution · occurrence
crater
Impact or volcanic basin
- ejectaMaterial forcibly discharged
- brecciaCemented angular rock fragments
- collisionForceful contact between objects
shockwave · fragmentation · moldavite · dumbbell · teardrop · ablation · aerodynamic · rotation · quench · melt
bolide
Detonating meteor, very bright
- fireballLuminous meteor or explosion
- meteoroidSmall body in space
- meteorGlowing atmospheric space rock
airburst · cosmic · extraterrestrial · asteroid impact · comet impact · hypervelocity · vaporization · condensation · fallback · proximal
vitreous
Glass-like in appearance
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- opaqueImpassable to light
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
smooth · brittle · amorphous · noncrystalline · silicate · bubble · inclusion · flow line · surface texture · sculpture
tektitemeteorite
Space debris reaching Earth
cosmic dust · chondrite · iron meteorite · asteroid · comet