The origin of the word 'Tektite' is from the Greek tektos, meaning "molten". Tektites are formed when a large meteorite strikes the Earth. 

Tektites appear to be fused glass which has formed during an impact of a meteor with layers of rock on the Earth's surface. Tektites usually have a heavily pitted surface and have a teardrop shape that could easily form as blobs of liquefied quartz cooled in the air while falling to the Earth.  Tektites are typically black or olive-green. The color of tektites depends on a number of factors and can range from an almost gold color, to a greenish shade to various dark greens, grays and black. Unless sliced very thinly, most tektites are opaque, however the Australasian tektites are sometimes known to have a gold color on the thinner edges when seen with a back light and their shape varies from rounded to irregular.Their luster is vitreous to dull. A crystal system does not apply because tektites are amorphous.  Their fracture is conchoidal, hardness is 5 - 6.  Notable occurrences of where Tektites are found include Moldavia region of Eastern Europe; Thailand and Southeast Asia; Australia and Georgia, USA. 

Tektites are known as one of the "driest" rocks, with an average water content of 0.005% which is very unusual, as most if not all of the craters where tektites may have formed were underwater before impact. Also, partially melted zircons have been discovered inside a handful of tektites. This, along with the water content, suggests that the tektites were formed under tremendous temperature and pressure not normally found on the surface of the Earth. Tektites tend to be found in what are known as strewnfields. The concept of a strewnfield is basically that when the meteorite impacted the earth, the tektites, along with over assorted debris are "strewn" out from the impact location. These strewnfields tend to move outward in the direction of impact, i.e. if the meteorite impacted from the web, the strewnfield will stretch to the east of the impact area.  Due to the tremendous size of the strewnfields however, it is often hard to know exactly where the tektite originated from. Strewnfields can reach out up to 1000 miles from the impact site.  

There is what is know as the terrestrial-impact theory which states that a meteorite impact melts material from the Earth's surface and catapults it up to several hundred kilometers away from the impact site, which means that it must have traveled through space (thus explaining the dryness). The molten material cools and solidifies to glass. According to this theory, a meteorite impact causes their formation, but the precursor material of tektites is primarily of terrestrial origin, as determined from isotopic measurements. Today, the terrestrial origin of tektites is widely accepted based on the results of many geochemical and isotopic studies, e.g. Faul, H. (1966) and Koeberl, C. (1990). The impact theory relies on the observation that tektites cannot be found in most places on Earth's surface. They are only found in four strewnfields, three of which are associated with known impact craters. Only the largest and geologically youngest tektite deposit in Southeast Asia, called the Australasian strewnfield, has not been definitively linked to an impact site, probably because even very large impact structures are often not easy to detect. For example, since the Chesapeake Bay impact crater (today the largest known impact structure of the United States and associated with the North American tektite strewnfield) is covered by sediments, it was not detected until the early 1990s. Also, the bigger the strewnfield, the bigger the area to search for the crater. Since several new craters are identified every year, this is not really regarded as a problem by proponents of the tektite impact theory, except for the expected Australasian crater, a feature that would be less than a million years old and thus easily visible. This crater, if it exists at all, has not been located.

The metaphysical properties of Tektites include; assisting one in attaining knowledge and learning lessons throughout the travels of life; balancing the feminine/masculine; providing insight, and strengthening one's energy field; and, stimulating thought transmissions.

Meditation with a Tektite will increase telepathy. Carry Tektite for heightened psychic sensitivity, psychic travel, increase energy field, open and clear the lower chakras.

Tektites assist with knowledge, as it is extraterrestrial in origin.  It also strengthens the energy field.  Tektites are protective in nature and aid one in grounding into Earth reality.  They are said to activate the third eye, assists one in visionary work, as well as assisting in both lucid dreaming and dream recall.  Tektites are known as good luck stones, especially in India where it is considered a sacred stone. Simply keep one in your pocket or purse or wear it on a string around your neck to enjoy the benefits.

Can be used by healers and energy workers to clear and unblock the lower chakras. This can be accomplished by placing the tektite directly on the patient's chakras one at a time or by slowing moving the tektite above the patients chakras and sweeping the blocked energy out to the side and away from the patient.

Adds power to any type of magic as it provides a direct connect with the universal energies. It can be placed on an altar while performing magic, added to a mojo bag, or a series of tektites can be used in a crystal vortex to charge objects.

Tektites can help remove fear from people and situations making it a possible stone to help those suffering from depression brought on by fear.

When someone is ill whether from a major illness or just a bout of the flu, placing a tektite within their auric field can help to strengthen the body to fight off the illness.

Finally Tektite is believed by some to help connect your personal thoughts and energies with alien beings from other planets.

Jill McCulloch

Healing Crystals Expert

Sources:

http://www.galleries.com/minerals/mineralo/tektites/tektites.htm

http://www.crystalsrocksandgems.com/Healing_Crystals/Tektite.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tektite

http://www.neatstuff.net/avalon/info/info-t.html

http://gemstone-dictionary.com/tektite.php

Interesting Sites:

http://www.tektites.co.uk/

http://www.meteorite.com/tektites/index.htm

http://www.ehow.com/about_5422927_tektite-healing-qualities.html

http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/npl/meteorites/tektites/tektite_info.html