Tektitised

Tektitised is a geological adjective used to describe rocks or rock textures that bear tektite-related characteristics, typically glassy material formed by rapid melting and cooling of crust during meteorite impacts. The term may apply to host rocks with tektite glass coating, veining, or embedded tektite fragments, as well as to rocks that have crystallized a tektite-like glass as an accreted component.

The term is not consistently standardized; many authors prefer to specify the tektite texture or describe tektite glass occurrences (for example, glass-coated surfaces, microtektites, or glass veins) rather than employing a single umbrella term. Tektitisation, where used, can refer to the process by which tektite glass becomes integrated into a rock during emplacement, though this usage is uncommon.

Etymology: tektitised is derived from tektite, from the Greek tektos meaning "made" or "hammered," with the suffix -ised indicating a condition or process.

Occurrence and significance: Tektitised rocks are typically reported in or near tektite fields or impact crater settings. They can provide evidence for past impact events and help delineate tektite-bearing units, but must be carefully distinguished from glassy contamination or other forms of glass within rocks.

Related terms include tektite, natural glass, and impact crater.