Indochinite: Space Glass from a Fiery Impact

Indochinite is a type of Tektite, which is a natural glass formed by the impact of a meteorite on Earth.

Indochinite refers specifically to black or dark brown tektites found in the Indochina region, which includes Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and southern China.

Indochinites formed around 700,000 years ago from a massive meteorite impact. They are have quite a distinctive texture which is usually pitted & form in various different shapes including droplets.

How are Tektites formed?

When a meteorite strikes the earth's surface, it generates a huge amount of heat & pressure, which will vaporise & melt the surrounding rocks and soil. This results in super-heated debris flying into the atmosphere, while it is in the atmosphere is cools and solidifies into this glass like form as it falls back to Earth.