• Location: Belize
• Weight: 1.8g
• Dimensions: 1.8 x 1 x 0.9 cm
• DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Central American Tektites – Belizeites Central American tektites, called belizeites (also belizites), represent a specific group of glassy rocks formed from the impact of an extraterrestrial body. These tektites found in the territory of Belize mainly occur as small, slightly anisometric fragments, whose original shape is practically impossible to estimate today. Only rarely can some pieces be interpreted as having originally been in the shape of drops or dumbbells, but completely preserved shapes are almost absent among the finds. Sharp or slightly rounded edges of fracture surfaces are typical, indicating that the transport of these bodies after impact was very short. Origin and structure of belizeites Belizeites are the result of common impact processes, where molten material was ejected into the atmosphere, shaped by rotation, and then fell back to Earth. Due to stresses and post-impact processes, most of the bodies shattered. Although a piece with a more pronounced shlieren structure, similar to the so-called Muong Nong type known from the Asia-Australia field, has been described, it was not a classical example of this type because the characteristic layering was absent. Surface and appearance of Belize tektites The surface of belizeites is usually finely pitted, and other types of surface textures are not present. Sometimes the surface is glossy, but more often slightly weathered, probably due to alteration or a short subfossil transport history. In appearance, Belize tektites most closely resemble African ivorites. Source crater of belizeites The source crater of Central American belizeite tektites is probably the circular Pantasma structure in the Pantasma Valley in northern Nicaragua. This impact depression has a diameter of 14.5 km and is located about 540 km southeast of the tektite sites in Belize. Research has confirmed the presence of typical impact markers such as glass with lechatelierite content, decomposed zircon, and chromium isotopes from ordinary chondrite. In addition, a match in the age of formation of glass from the Pantasma crater and the belizeites themselves has been confirmed, supporting the theory that this was the site of an extraterrestrial impact that ejected material into the atmosphere and then onto the Earth's surface. Geological research and field findings Direct field searches for belizeites, for example in gravel pits east of Spanish Lookout, have often been unsuccessful. An experienced geologist who is well acquainted with the area confirmed that no tektites have been found in the gravel pits at that location. Although it is not impossible for a piece to be found in the future outside of known sites, the negative results from these localities indicate a limited transport radius for these tektites — their relative fragility and small size probably did not allow for their preservation over greater distances.