Tektite is natural glass, not a crystal. A large meteorite impact melted Earth rock and threw it into the air, and it cooled into dark pieces. Glass imitations are common, and we do not carry it.
Natural glass (impact glass; not a mineral)
Tektite
Tectita
- Palette
- Black Brown Green
- Mined in
- Australia, China, Philippines, Czech Republic, Ivory Coast, United States, Kazakhstan
- Hardness
- Mohs 5.0–6.0 ?
- See-through
- translucent
- Known since
- 1900
- Named for
- Greek tektos, meaning molten
- Also sold as
- indochinite, australite, philippinite, impact glass
- Intention
- Protection
- Looking for
- Protection Clearing negativity
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Tektite is natural glass formed by meteorite impact. Some tektite beads are waxed for shine; no dye is reported.
Not in our pieces now
24 KG
Muong Nong tektites can top 10 centimeters across and weigh as much as 24 kilograms.
15 MILLION YEARS
Moldavites formed about 15 million years ago, when an impact carved the Nördlinger Ries crater in southern Germany.
FRANZ EDUARD SUESS
The Austrian geologist Franz Eduard Suess coined the word tektite from the Greek tektos, meaning molten.
What it is
Natural glass thrown out when a large meteorite hit the Earth and cooled in the air. It is usually black or dark brown with a pitted, splash-shaped surface; moldavite is the green kind. It is glass rather than a crystal, and glass fakes are common.
Where it comes from
Tektites are found in a few large fields: the Australasian field (Australia, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean), the Central European field (moldavite in the Czech Republic and Germany), the Ivory Coast and North America.
In history
The best-documented tektites are moldavites from Bohemia, which early people in the Czech Republic and Austria flaked into tools, including some worked pieces from the Aurignacian, 43,000 to 26,000 years ago. A Prague professor, Josef Mayer, presented them to scientists in 1786, and in 1900 Franz Eduard Suess named the whole class tektites.
What's said about it
In crystal lore today, tektite is kept for protection. It is said to form a kind of shield around you, and it is often set above the head in protection layouts.
Different fields of it are named for where they fell, such as the Australian and Southeast Asian kinds. People keep it in a pocket, in a room, or as a small pendant.
How people wear or keep it: Above the head, in a pocket, in a room, or as a pendant.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, tektite is paired with the crown chakra, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: above the head, in a pocket, in a room. People reach for it when they want protection, clearing negativity, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraCrown
ZodiacAries, Cancer, Sagittarius
ElementEarth
Also calledindochinite, australite, philippinite
Care
- Glass can chip and crack: wear it where it will not be knocked, and keep it from harder stones in a pouch.
- Wipe with a soft damp cloth and dry it; skip ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals.
- Keep it away from sudden heat or cold.
- Rough, pitted pieces can have sharp edges, so check the surface before wearing it against skin.
How to tell what you have
- Tektites are dark brown to black glass with dimpled, pitted surfaces; they can look like obsidian.
- Tektite holds very little water: it does not froth when heated, and obsidian does.
- As glass it chips and can shatter from heat or a knock; plain black glass beads with a smooth, uniform finish are likely man-made.
What sets the price
Price follows which kind it is (green moldavite from a few localities, or dark tektite from wider fields), the size and look of the piece, and whether it is natural impact glass; green glass fakes exist.
Rules and sourcing
Some tektite beads are waxed for shine. The FTC jewelry guides call for a seller to disclose a wax.
Questions people ask at our table
What is a tektite?
A piece of natural glass formed when a large meteorite impact melted Earth rock and threw it into the air. The droplets cooled and fell as small dark pieces, sometimes far from the crater.
Is it a crystal or a mineral?
No. It is glass with no crystal structure, so it is not a mineral. Moldavite is the best-known green tektite.
Is it from space?
No. Scientists conclude it is melted Earth material, not meteorite metal or rock. The impact was what came from space.
How can I tell a real one from a fake?
Hardness will not tell you, since man-made glass is similar. Real pieces often have a pitted, splash-formed surface, but fakes are common, so buy from someone who knows where the piece was found.
Where does it come from?
Australia, Southeast Asia and China, the Czech Republic, the Ivory Coast and the United States all have tektite fields, each tied to a different impact.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
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