Indochinite tektite Freeform - Height: 75 mm - Width: 28 mm - 98 g - (2)
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Selected by Francesco Moser
Over 20 years collecting meteorites; former museum curator and experienced restorer.
Estimate € 170 - € 200
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Two Forme libre Tectite indochinite meteorites from Vietnam (Muong Nong type), weighing 98 g and 20 g, with dimensions about 75 × 28 × 25 mm and 55 × 15 × 15 mm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
these are 2 Indochinites, black tektite characteristic of the Australasian dispersion field
Indochinites of Vietnam (type specimen “Muong Nong” for the largest)
Length: 75x25x25 mm and 55x15x15 mm weights: 98 and 20 g
Shape: elongated, fusiform/ellipsoidal — typical of Indochinites that take on “drop”, “spoon” or “disk” shapes depending on their cooling trajectory
Age ~790,000 years
Major meteoritic impact in Southeast Asia (crater presumed in southern Laos / northern Cambodia)
Instant fusion of terrestrial rocks (silica) projected into the atmosphere, then rapid cooling into natural glass
Dispersion field
The largest in the world: covers ~30% of the Earth's surface (Australia, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean)
Pitted surface (major characteristic)
The multiple cavities and hollows visible on the entire surface are aerodynamic pittings: they form during the fiery reentry of the molten glass droplet, where friction ablation creates these distinctive imprints
Typical chemical composition of Indochinites
SiO₂: ~70–75 %
Al₂O₃: ~12–15 %
FeO: ~5–7 %
CaO, MgO, Na₂O, K₂O: traces
Extremely low water content (< 0.02 %) — distinctive signature of tektites
Hardness Mohs: 5 to 6.5
Density: ~2.4 g/cm³
Regular pittings: the cavities should have melted/rounded rims, not mechanical fractures
Presence of lechatelierite (amorphous pure SiO₂) — proof of fusion at very high temperature
Indochinites are found mainly in:
Vietnam ( Yen Bai, Binh Phuoc provinces…)
Laos
Cambodia
Thailand
these are 2 Indochinites, black tektite characteristic of the Australasian dispersion field
Indochinites of Vietnam (type specimen “Muong Nong” for the largest)
Length: 75x25x25 mm and 55x15x15 mm weights: 98 and 20 g
Shape: elongated, fusiform/ellipsoidal — typical of Indochinites that take on “drop”, “spoon” or “disk” shapes depending on their cooling trajectory
Age ~790,000 years
Major meteoritic impact in Southeast Asia (crater presumed in southern Laos / northern Cambodia)
Instant fusion of terrestrial rocks (silica) projected into the atmosphere, then rapid cooling into natural glass
Dispersion field
The largest in the world: covers ~30% of the Earth's surface (Australia, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean)
Pitted surface (major characteristic)
The multiple cavities and hollows visible on the entire surface are aerodynamic pittings: they form during the fiery reentry of the molten glass droplet, where friction ablation creates these distinctive imprints
Typical chemical composition of Indochinites
SiO₂: ~70–75 %
Al₂O₃: ~12–15 %
FeO: ~5–7 %
CaO, MgO, Na₂O, K₂O: traces
Extremely low water content (< 0.02 %) — distinctive signature of tektites
Hardness Mohs: 5 to 6.5
Density: ~2.4 g/cm³
Regular pittings: the cavities should have melted/rounded rims, not mechanical fractures
Presence of lechatelierite (amorphous pure SiO₂) — proof of fusion at very high temperature
Indochinites are found mainly in:
Vietnam ( Yen Bai, Binh Phuoc provinces…)
Laos
Cambodia
Thailand
Details
Number of objects
2
Name of meteorite
Indochinite tektite
Type of meteorite
Freeform
Weight
98 g
Origin (region/city)
Vietnam
Country of origin
Vietnam
Height
75 mm
Width
28 mm
Depth
25 mm
