Tektites and Pseudotektites... Or Not 

Thank you very much Patrick for the scientific approach to this mineral. I look forward to seeing the beauty you create.

Those Pseudo tektites are lovely with the light glowing through them. I really enjoy the science you share. Thank you!

Language is a critical component to the world of rocks and minerals, without it the conveyance of information is lost and that's why it's important for everyone to try there best to get things right with identification and not make up names for things. Trade-names that remove or change what something actually is needs to stop.

Great clarification. I agree with Jared, trade names and made up names for rocks/minerals really befuddle the communication about the materials and should cease. The market is riddled with problems in this regard; both buyers and sellers beware. Thanks for taking the time to research and bring us the education. Cheers!

Unfortunately, there are several types of obsidian nodules that are being marketed as tektites. Obsidian nodules from Arizona called Saffordites are frequently marketed as tektites.

Finally, a definition of these. I've been scouring resources and asking my mentors whether or not the Columbianite I purchased on a whim is really a tektite at all. I had also noticed the striking similarities it had with apache tears. And I feel like, on the surface, tektites are some of the easiest gems to falsify in marketing. I've moved it from my tektite drawer to my obsidian drawer and back again in the process of trying to figure this out- looks like I'll be moving it back. Thank you, I've been really wanting an answer for this!

Wow! That is truly interesting and disappointing. I was in both live sales where you won the piece of colombianite and where you were gifted the ones from delilah! Never once was it conveyed that they were not tektites. Im not sure that kyle ever knew that they were supposedly reclassified as Apache tears. As somebody that has bought one from him, im rather pissed and i dont have any idea if the person who supplied them to him knew either, or if he told kyle or not! Because that is going to bw a lot of refunds coming in because he sold almost all ot the ones he had. Thank you for explaining the difference to us and showing that they knew these were apache tears and are being sold as suedo-tektites anyways. Thanks Patrick!

greetings nice to join you, good luck

in conditions that good man get good power because you know elements are much stronger than army (8448)

Unfortunately, grifters are always waiting in the wings of every hobby.

Hopefully this helps clears things up. www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2017/pdf/2832.pdf