Where are the Georgia tektites?
Georgiaite is a rare form of tektite found only in the state of Georgia in the southeastern United States. These tektites are found in part of the North American strewn field coming from what is believed to be the Chesapeake Bay impact crater in the late Eocene epoch over 35 million years ago.
How do I know if I have Tektite?
By far the easiest test is to get a thin slither or edge of the glass (1 mm thick) and shine a light through it. Note the colour. Tektites always have a olive or coffee brown with subtle greenish hue, a greenish yellow, a green, a brownish green, or greenish brown.
Where are tektites found?
Tektites have been found only in certain parts of the world, spread over large areas called strewn fields, mainly in low latitudes. The three major areas are south-east Asia (especially Thailand and the Philippines), Australasia; Caribbean-North America; and Ivory Coast, West Africa.
What are tektites made of?
Tektites (from Ancient Greek τηκτός (tēktós) ‘molten’) are gravel-sized bodies composed of black, green, brown, or gray natural glass formed from terrestrial debris ejected during meteorite impacts. The term was coined by Austrian geologist Franz Eduard Suess (1867–1941), son of Eduard Suess.
Are tektites glass?
Tektites (from Ancient Greek τηκτός (tēktós) ‘molten’) are gravel-sized bodies composed of black, green, brown, or gray natural glass formed from terrestrial debris ejected during meteorite impacts.
Why is obsidian black?
Pure obsidian is usually dark in appearance, though the color varies depending on the impurities present. Iron and other transition elements may give the obsidian a dark brown to black color. Most black obsidians contain nanoinclusions of magnetite, an iron oxide. Very few samples of obsidian are nearly colorless.
What is the difference between Tektite and obsidian?
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass, generally black in color (as most known tektites) but it can also be brown, grey, or green. Ob- sidian typically exhibits layers, whereas tektites do not (with the exception of the Muong Nong-type layered tektites).
What is a Georgia tektite?
Georgia tektites, or “Georgiaites,” are part of the North American strewn field. A tektite is a high-silica glassy object that can range in size from the microscopic to weights of many kilograms. They generally have aerodynamically formed shapes like buttons, teardrops and dumbbells.
Where did Georgiaites come from?
It is generally accepted that Georgiaites, and other North American tektites, may have originated from the 58 mile diamater Chesapeake Bay Crater, discovered in Virgina in 1994.
Where can I find Georgiaite fossils?
Hal Povenmire has conducted the most extensive study of Georgiaites since 1970, and has published his findings in his 2003 book, Tektites: A Cosmic Enigma. The Fernbank Science Centerin Atlanta has a wonderful Georgiaite collection maintained by Dr. Ed Albin.
How many Georgiaite specimens are on display?
Many of the specimens were donated by Hugh H. Howard. The Tellus Museumrin Cartersville has 9 Georgiaite specimens on display — several of them from the Thomas E. Allen collection. The average size of a Georgiaite is slightly less than 10g each.