What are tektites?

Tektites are a fascinating and mysterious type of glassy meteorite that has been found around the world. They are believed to have originated from meteorite impacts on the Earth's surface, and are composed of various materials such as quartz, feldspar, and mica. Tektites have been studied for centuries, and their origin and composition remain largely a mystery.

Tektites are most commonly found in regions of the world that were affected by large meteorite impacts in the past. The largest known impact crater is the Vredefort crater in South Africa, and tektites from this area are known as Vredefort tektites. Other tektites have been found in Australia, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.

The composition of tektites varies depending on the region they were found in. Vredefort tektites are typically composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica, while Australian tektites are composed of quartz, feldspar, and volcanic glass. Tektites from Southeast Asia are typically composed of quartz, feldspar, and glassy material.

Tektites are believed to have been formed when a meteorite impact melted and vaporized the Earth's surface. The molten material was then ejected into the atmosphere and cooled as it traveled, forming the glassy tektites. This theory is supported by the fact that tektites have been found in areas that have been affected by large meteorite impacts in the past.

Tektites have been used in many different ways throughout history. They have been used as jewelry, tools, and even as a form of currency.

Tektites are an intriguing and mysterious type of meteorite that have been studied for centuries. Their origin and composition remain largely a mystery, but they are believed to have been formed from meteorite impacts on the Earth's surface.

Pros and cons in investing in tektites.

Pros:

• Tektites are a rare and unique form of natural glass, making them a valuable and desirable collector item.

• Tektites are a low-cost investment with the potential for a high return.

• Tektites are a tangible asset, making them easy to store and trade.

• Tektites have a long history of appreciation in value, making them a reliable investment.

• Tektites are a relatively low-risk investment that can generate steady returns over time.

Cons:

• Tektites can be difficult to find and are highly sought after, making them expensive to acquire.

• Tektites are not widely traded, meaning it can be difficult to find buyers.

• Tektites are subject to market fluctuations, making them a risky investment.

• Tektites are a niche market, meaning that it can be difficult to find reliable information on pricing and trends.

• Tektites can be difficult to authenticate, meaning buyers must be cautious when making purchases.

Tektite pricing USD 2019

So here goes (price estimates in USD):

Splashform Indochinites from Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and China appear to typically retail in the $0.1 to $0.7 /gram range. Obviously better pieces with good shapes, preservation, sculpture, etc. go for a little more, working towards $1 / gram. Exceptional pieces can be very much higher. Layered Muong Nong-type ‘tektites’ appear to have similar price ranges, but would tend to go more towards the lower end of the scale at around $0.3 /gram.

Philippinites, which are most commonly sourced from the prolific Bicol Region appear to go for $0.2 to $1.0 / gram. Very typically at $0.6 or $0.7 / gram. This is a little surprising considering cost at source is comparable with Indochinites and seems attributable to lack of local online sellers selling the lower grades, which is in turn attributable to the problems of requiring export permits. This translates into it being uneconomic to sell the lower grades except in bulk, so most local sellers only offer the higher value specimens online. This is one to watch as small scale mining operations are shut down by the government, this may reduce overall supply and raise prices. Larger Philippinites already appear scarcer and prices of a breadcrust might be $1/ gram plus retail, although much cheaper in the Philippines. Large spheres are now few and far between and have risen in price. I’m not sure on the current price but likely you’re looking at in excess of $1 / gram for western retail price. Philippinites from other localities are a more specialist collectors field and command a slightly higher value owing to their rarity. Values can be just marginally higher to significantly higher depending on the sculpture and preservation, leading to estimates of $0.2 to $1.5 / gram. Tektites from Anda, but only those which have well developed Anda-type sculpture are likely to retail at around $3 – 5 / gram, and probably approaching the higher end of that estimate as supply is limited. Again, this is retail and at source the price needs to be at least a third of this

.

Bornites / Malaysianites are elusive, but would probably retail for around $2 in my estimation – a rather specialist field as morphologically they are similar to the much cheaper Philippinites.

Billitonites from Indonesia are likely to be retailing at around $1.5 to $2 / gram. Suppliers come and go. They sell a few, the limited market is happy, no more buyers at that price and the sellers disappear again. You can buy direct from Jewellery stores.

Javaites. They’re just not available. What you are likely to find if you’re lucky are lower grade fragments. I’d estimate the prices at $10-50 a gram. Specimens are not all that desirable beyond saying you own one. If higher quality material were to come available prices would likely be very high, at least until the market was satisfied.

Australites are a tricky one to estimate as price varies dependent on locality / preservation and morphology. They probably start at $1-2 / gram to $10 / gram for the lower to typical grades and then can extend all the way to $1000 / gram for the highest grades. Better quality material might be in the order of $30-50 a gram.

Moldavites. From the Czech Republic a typical price for a shaped piece of average quality might be $11-13 / gram. Fragments would be cheaper, down to around $6 / gram. Better quality would be $16-22 / gram. Some of the nicest Moldavites are from Besednice, the classic hedgehog sculpture, which are much harder to come by these days (the mine is closed) and these will go for closer to $45 / gram, with the finest reaching $230 / gram. Similar hedgehog sculptured pieces from other localities may go for $17-34 / gram or more dependent on quality, chips, etc. Locality and sculpture are very important factors in determining Moldavite value and so prices can vary considerably. Moldavites from Germany are usually rounded pebbles, very sparse and uncommon on the market. They sell for $20-110 / gram dependent on quality.

North American Georgiaites remain ‘as rare as hen’s teeth’. It’s really a specialist field collecting these, a small number of collectors but an even smaller supply. I would value Georgiaites at around $100 a gram – maybe marginally cheaper for lower quality, but a slightly better shape and translucency would command a higher price. As for the related Bediasite, well these are much more common, relatively speaking. A price of $5-13 / gram covers most specimens, with somewhere in the middle of this a pretty realistic price for an average specimen.

Central American tektites have a sparse supply, are not common and found in a relatively small area. Prices have been touted as $40-100 / gram and probably mid-way between this and rising is probably realistic.

Uruguaites, the newly discovered tektite from Uruguay will be high priced, probably well north of $100 / gram I would imagine. They are not really available, and the abundance or availability is not really established. Out of most people’s reach I’m sure.

Ivorites from the Ivory Coast had an influx in February 2014 from Alian Carion. This dropped prices to about $100 / gram or slightly less and suddenly many tektite collectors could afford one. Prices have probably been on the rise since and are likely to be found to be in excess of $100/ gram, up to $300 / gram.

Darwin Glass. The frothy type I’ve put at $1 to $1.5 / gram. The splash-form I’ve placed at $2-7 / gram, but really good shapes will cost more. Prices seem to vary quite a lot and there seems to be sudden supplies and then droughts. Collecting is restricted in many areas.

Zhamanshinites from Zhamanshin Crater seem to have one main supplier and I’ve seen prices in the $1-3 / gram mark, but more commonly much lower in the $0.15 to 0.30 / gram area. The lower end seems more realistic for these blocky impact glasses. Irghizites I’ve estimated at $2 a gram, again prices seem to vary by quite a lot.

Lonar Crater Glass doesn’t seem to be available.

Wabar Glass is very rarely available. I’m guessing $50 / gram, could go higher towards $100 / gram.

Libyan Desert Glass had a good influx a number of years ago – there were many email offers, but following the Arab Spring in 2010 the supply has dwindled. I’ve heard the area is no-go, not sure how true that is. Anyway prices are in the $2-6 / gram range.

Atacamaites are new on the scene. Reportedly have an age of 7 million years, but nothing published yet (Jan, 2019). When I first saw them I assumed they were related to the Monturaqui Crater, but if accurate then this age precludes that origin. Would be nice to know the locality. Anyway the prices seem to be in the $10-50 / gram range. Some offerings have been good lately but only time will tell – will they go down when the locality is released and more flood on the market or will meteorite law prohibit the collection of further specimens and push the price up?

Pampasites, ugly looking glasses, possibly of lightening origin on deflation surfaces and not true impact glasses. The prices seem to be $0.5 to $1 / gram.

Edeowie Glass is sparse on the market. Again is it a true impact glass or formed by lightening strike? Prices are around $1 / gram