Tekitised

Tekitised is a geological adjective used to describe rocks and sediments that show the incorporation or emplacement of tektite glass, or that bear tektite components within a host matrix. In practice, a tekitised unit contains tektite fragments, nodules, or a glassy groundmass set within surrounding rock. The term emphasizes tektite-related alteration rather than a primary lithology and is less common than descriptors such as tektite-bearing.

Formation and features: Tektites form when terrestrial rocks melt and are ejected during a hypervelocity meteorite impact. The resulting glassy droplets or shards can be deposited onto the landscape or become embedded in sediments and sedimentary rocks. A tekitised unit records this tektite emplacement, often showing dispersed glass fragments or a continuous glassy component within the host. The tektite glass is typically silica-rich and may display vesicular textures. Diagenetic or recrystallization processes can further modify the surrounding rock in tekitised horizons.

Usage and interpretation: The term is regional and not universally standardized; some geologists prefer tektitised or tektite-bearing to avoid ambiguity. Tekitised horizons are used to infer the timing of sedimentation relative to an impact event and to correlate strata within or across tektite strewn fields.

See also: tektites, impact cratering, ejecta, tektite fields.