Tektites are small, pebble-like glassy objects of Earth material that have been melted by meteorite impact, splashed up into our atmosphere, and fallen to Earth again under gravity. They often acquire aerodynamic shapes when they partially melt on their return journey. Their name comes from the Greek word 'tektos', meaning 'molten'. The first written reference to tektites was about one thousand and fifty years ago, by Liu Sun in China, who gave them a name meaning 'Inkstone of the Thundergod'.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2004