linitite

Linitite is a term used to describe glassy materials formed when a nuclear explosion melts and fuses surface soils and sands. It is closely related to trinitite, the better-known glass produced by the 1945 Trinity test, but linitite is sometimes used to refer to similar glass from other tests or to glass formed in different soil types.

Formation: Extremely high temperatures from the explosion melt silica-rich soils and minerals. Rapid cooling then vitrifies the molten material into glass, which may preserve inclusions such as mineral grains or device-derived particulates. The morphology can include crusts, sheets, or nodules across the blast zone.

Composition and appearance: Linitite is typically silicate glass with colors ranging from olive green to tan, depending on impurities and radiation exposure. The texture can be glassy, with occasional vesicles or crystal pockets, and samples often contain trace amounts of phase-separated minerals and energetic by-products.

Occurrence and research: Linitite has been found at surface test sites and fallout areas, especially desert regions where past detonations melted the soil. It is collected by researchers and museum curators as a historical artifact and for studies of blast effects, materials science, and radiological safety. Some samples remain mildly radioactive.

Safety and handling: As a radiological material, linitite samples require proper handling, storage, and disposal according to applicable regulations. Access is typically restricted to authorized personnel.

See also: Trinitite; nuclear glass; radiological hazards.