Largest Tektites
I have started to compile a list of some of the world largest (heaviest) tektites. This is a start - loads more details to add. I'm also sure there are some very large tektites that I still do not know about! If you have any information that can help then please email me at aubrey@tektites.co.uk. Also I apologise, but I haven't sought full permissions for every photo on this page - I'm kind of assuming people will want to share their wonderfully large specimens with the world! I'll take down any photos on request and also add any on request!
SUMMARY
Biggest Indochinite Muong Nong-type: Probably 29.0kg
Biggest Chinese Muong Nong-type tektite: 10.79kg
Biggest Vietnamese Muong Nong-type tektite: 2.9kg
Biggest Thai Muong Nong-type tektite: Probably 29.0kg
Biggest Laos Muong Nong-type tektite: 24.1kg
Biggest Cambodian Muong Nong-type tektite: 3.2kg
Biggest Indochinite Splashform: 1200g (country of origin not known)
Biggest Chinese Splashform tektite: 411.6g (probably larger exist)
Biggest Vietnamese Splashform tektite: 850g (unverified)
Biggest Thai Splashform tektite: 456g
Biggest Laos Splashform tektite: no data
Biggest Cambodian Splashform tektite: no data
Biggest Malaysian Splashform tektite: 464g (Probably Malaysian - not certain)
Biggest Philippinite Splashform: 1069g
Note that Muong Nong-type tektites are not present in the Philippines.
Biggest Indonesian Tektite: 750g (need more info)
Biggest Billitonite: 105.15g (I'm certain larger specimens exist)
Biggest Javaite: 750g (I'd like to check this out)
Biggest Australite: 437.53g
Biggest Central European tektite (Moldavite): close to 500g / 500g
Biggest Moravian Moldavite: 265.5g
Biggest Bohemian Moldavite: close to 500g / 500g
Biggest North American Tektite: 200.84g
Biggest Georgiaite Muong Nong-type: 130g
Biggest Georgiaite Splashform: 86.37g
Biggest Bediasite: 200.84g
Australasian Strewnfield
Indochinites:
Weight: 1200g
Ranking: Largest known Indochinite
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Indochina (detailed locality details no known).
Type: Concavo-convex elliptical shaped splashform
Reference: Email, Meteorite Times http://www.meteorite-times.com/Back_Links/2009/february/Tektite_of_Month.htm
Collection: John. L. Cabassi, California, USA. IMCA #2125
ABOVE: Images of John's 1200g Indochinite. Top image from Meteorite Times. Click on image for the link!
Vietnam:
Weight: 2.9 kilos
Ranking: #1 Largest Muong Nong-type
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Vietnam (no details)
Type: MUONG NONG-TYPE
Reference: Email from Erland D. Jensen (unseen by myself)
Collection: Unknown
Weight: 850g
Ranking: Largest splashform in Vietnam
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Vietnam (no details - ?Dalat)
Type: Splashform
Reference: Email from Erland D. Jensen (specimen unseen by myself)
Collection: Unknown
Weight: 705.8g
Ranking: ?Second largest splashform in Vietnam
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Vietnam - found in 2006 in a specific place, North from Hanoi
Type: Splashform "flat dumbbell"-like dish. It has a neat black clean, almost shiny and undamaged surface on both sides, with a thin stripe crossing the "dish" in its middle, possibly somewhat related to a particular Anda-type texture.
Reference: Email Prof. Zelimir Gabelica
Collection: Prof. Zelimir Gabelica, Université de Haute Alsace, France
Weight: 700g
Ranking: n/a
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Vietnam (no details). ?I think this was in a shop in Ho Chi Minh City, South Vietnam? ??Probably not the same tektite as above??
Type: Splashform (symmetrical – concave on one side, uncertain of other side)
Reference: Email from Erland D. Jensen plus photo of specimen on scales
Collection: Unknown
ABOVE: A 700g Vietnamese tektite.
Weight: 511.2g
Dimensions: 1 1/8” by 4 1/8” by 4 1/2”
Ranking: n/a
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: South Vietnam (?Dalat)
Type: Concavo-convex splashform
Reference: Brian Burrer
Collection: Brian Burrer, Texas USA
ABOVE: A 511.2g specimen from Vietnam
Weight: 497.2g
Ranking: n/a
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Vietnam, Dalat
Type: Concavo-convex splashform with U-groove running across convex side
Reference: Aubrey Whymark
Collection: Aubrey Whymark, Manila, Philippines
ABOVE: A 497.2g tektite from Vietnam
China:
I’m sure there are some very large splashform specimens from China, but I don’t know about them!
Weight: 10.79kg
Ranking: Biggest Muong Nong-type tektite in China
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: near Wenchang, Hainan, China
Type: MUONG NONG-TYPE
Reference: Futrell D. S. and Wasson J. T. 1993
Collection: unknown
ABOVE: A 10.79kg Muong Nong-type tektite from Hainan, China. Image taken from Futrell and Wasson, 1993.
Weight: 411.6g
Ranking: Biggest dumbbell
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: China
Type: Dumbbell
Reference: The Tektite Source http://www.tektitesource.com/Monster_asians.html
Collection: Norm Lehman, USA 
ABOVE: A 411.6g dumbbell from China. Click on the Photo to link to The Tektite Source
Thailand:
Weight: 29 kg
Ranking: Possibly the largest Muong-Nong type tektite
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Purchased from Thailand
Type: MUONG NONG-TYPE
Reference: Email 15 July 2008. No further information.
Collection: Mr Lim, Singapore
ABOVE: A 29kg Muong Nong tektite from Thailand. Owned by Mr Lim. When I see the photos I'm not 100% convinced. It's a little too vesicular for my liking - what do you think? I would love to get more info on this specimen or see it in real life.
Weight: ?28 kg
Ranking: Possibly the largest Muong-Nong type tektite
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Thailand
Type: MUONG NONG-TYPE
Reference: Email by Dirk Ross 25 May 2007. No further information. (??Same as above 29kg specimen??)
Collection: Bangkok
Weight: 12.8 kg
Ranking: Largest well recorded Muong-Nong type tektite
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Amphoe Khemarat, NE Thailand
Type: MUONG NONG-TYPE
Reference: Barnes V. E. 1971
Collection: unknown
ABOVE: A 12.8 kg Muong Nong-type tektite from Thailand. Image taken from Barnes, 1971
Weight: 456 gms
Ranking: Largest reported from Thailand
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Thailand
Type: not known
Reference: Email from Norm Lehman on 24/05/2007
Collection: unknown
Weight: Under 400g
Dimensions: 95x111x20mm
Ranking: --
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Thailand
Type: Oval flat-concave to bi-concave
Reference: Ebay Exotica Shop (5 Billionaires)
Collection: Exotica Shop (Mar 2009)
Cambodia:
Weight: 3200g
Ranking: Largest Muong Nong-type tektite
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: --
Type: MUONG NONG-TYPE
Reference: Povenmire H. 2003
Collection: unknown
Weight: 630g
Ranking: --
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Cambodia
Type: Uncertain of type - Muong Nong or Splashform, but reportedly 'whole'.
Reference: Lacroix A. 1929. Sur l'existence de tectites au Cambodge; leur morphologie. Also in Beyer H. O. 1940
Collection: unknown
Laos:
Weight: 24.1 kg / over 24 kg
Ranking: Largest Muong Nong-type tektite
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: no data
Type: MUONG NONG-TYPE (fragment of larger mass)
Reference: Povenmire H. 2003
Collection: unknown. ?House of Gems in Bangkok [shop]? See Futrell D. S. and Wasson J. T. 1993 and King E. A. & Koeberl C. 1991
No Data on Splashforms
Malaysia:
Weight: 464g (when intact - now in half)
Ranking: Largest splashform in Malaysia
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Not Certain as found in drawer of Raffles Museum, Singapore. It may have come from Kelantan, Malaysia (Scrivenor, 1916) or Pahang, Malaysia (Beyer H. O. 1940) [Pahang is south of bordering Kelantan].
Type: Smooth sphere
Reference: Povenmire H. 2003, Koenigswald G. H. R. von 1964. Details in Scrivenor J. B. 1916.
Collection: Raffles Museum, Singapore (in 1916) and later presented to the British Museum of Natural History (Scrivenor, 1931).
ABOVE: The 464g probable Malaysian tektite after being broken whilst trying to cut it in half. Image taken from Scrivenor J. B. 1916.
Philippines:
Weight: 1,070.54g (also quoted at 1,070g, commonly quoted at 1,069g, also quoted at 1,065g
Ranking: #1 Largest ever found in Philippines. Reportedly a little over 4 inches (=101.6 mm) in Diameter and quoted as 1,070g in Beyer H. O. 1940.
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Bikol, Philippines
Type: Smooth Sphere
Reference: Beyer
Collection: Previously Henry Otley Beyer. Previously the Futrell Collection. Currently in the Corning Museum of Glass, New York State, USA. Catalogue Number 2000.7.4.
ABOVE: Beyers huge 1069g tektite from the Philippines whilst still in the Beyer collection.
In 1999 the same 1,069g specimen appears in the Darryl Futrell collection now weighed in at 1,065g (Reference: Futrell D. S. 1999. The lunar origin of tektites. Part 2. Rock and Gem. 29 (3) March: 40-47). Darryl Futrell sadly passed away in 2001. Prior to his death a number of specimens were sold off to pay for medical bills. A bunch of specimens were also donated to the Corning Museum of Glass prior to Darryl's death. On Darryl's death Norm Lehrman of The Tektite Source acted as the agent for the family in order to sell the collection. Some specimens made it to meteorites-for-sale.com and then onwards into private collections. The main collection, with the premium pieces was sold in 2009 to an (as yet) undisclosed new impact museum in Canada. Norm Lehrman had in his hands 'The Animal' but not 'The Monster'.
ABOVE two images: In year 2000 Darryl Futrell donated a number of specimens to the Corning Museum of Glass. This tektite, cataloged as 2000.7.4, measures 10.1cm diameter and weighs 1,070.54g. The specimen is on display in the Glass in Nature exhibit. In the record it is noted that it comes from Vietnam. It was donated with Vietnamese splashforms, but I doubt this comes from Vietnam. Vietnamese tektites of this size typically form concavo-convex (or possibly biconcave or biconvex) discs - only Philippinites produce spheres in this size range. This specimen is definitely the Beyer 'Monster' and, as such, is the largest known complete Philippinite Splashform.
Weight: 1009g
Ranking: Second largest in Philippines
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: presume Bikol, Philippines
Type: Sphere with bubble inside (so is actually the size of a theoretical specimen of 1223 grams)
Reference: Email Prof. Zelimir Gabelica http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2007-May/035147.html
Collection: Dieter
ABOVE: A 1009g Philippinite!
Weight: 991.7g
Ranking: Third Largest in Philippines
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: --
Type: -- presumably a smooth sphere
Reference: Email from Norm Lehrman on 24/05/2007
Collection: Previously the Futrell collection. ?Now Norm Lehman of The Tektite Source
Weight: 986g
Ranking: Fourth Largest in Philippines
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: presume Bikol, Philippines
Type: presume Sphere
Reference: Email Prof. Zelimir Gabelica http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2007-May/035147.html
Collection: Email Prof. Zelimir Gabelica (in 2007). Possibly has new home now.
Weight: 967g
Ranking: Fifth Largest in Philippines
Strewn field: Bikol, Philippines
Locality: presume Bikol, Philippines
Type: presume Sphere
Reference: Email Prof. Zelimir Gabelica http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2007-May/035147.html
Collection: Email Prof. Zelimir Gabelica (in 2007).
Weight: 924.9g
Ranking: n/a
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Bikol, Philippines
Type: Smooth sphere with one old but large chip
Reference: Guido von Berg sales list, plus photograph.
Collection: Guido von Berg (in 2008 – may have since been sold).
ABOVE: A 924.9g sphere and 679.1g hollow sphere from the Philippines. Not sure which is which!
Weight: 867g
Dimensions: 88-89 mm diameter. Volume around 355ml (indicates solid sphere with no bubbles)
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Bikol, Philippines
Type: Smooth Sphere, no chips.
Reference: Seen and photographed by Aubrey Whymark. I bought this specimen and instantly sold to Des Leong at cost price. Des collects large specimens.
Collection: Desmond Leong, Manila, Philippines
ABOVE: An 867g Philippinite. Large but a couple of hundred grams short of the largest known!
Weight: 658g (hollow sphere)
Dimensions: 86-93 mm diameter. Volume around 358ml (This tektite should weigh 877g! It must contain a bubble equivalent to 55.5 mm diameter).
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Polo, near Pinagbirayan, Paracale Municipality, Camarines Norte, Bikol, Philippines. (Polo is a small island in the middle of a lake). Found end April / start May 2009
Type: Smooth Sphere, no chips.
Reference: Seen and photographed by Aubrey Whymark.
Collection: Aubrey Whymark, Manila, Philippines
ABOVE: A 658g Philippinite, but with a volume of a 877g specimen. This tektite contains a bubble (or bubbles) equivalent to 55.5 mm diameter. The tektite really does feel light!
ABOVE: A comparison of the 867g Philippinite and hollow 658g Philippinite. The smoother one is the 867g specimen, which is on the right in all the photos except for the one with the city in the background and the one with me (in the checked shirt) holding the specimen.
Indonesia:
I’d like some data here on the largest Billitonite! My largest weighs 96.2g. I’ve seen one weighing 105.15g at http://indonesian-tektites.com/BELLITONITES.htm
Weight: 750g – I’d like to know more about this – anyone?
Ranking: Largest tektite from Java
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Java
Type: no data
Reference: Povenmire H. 2003
Collection: unknown
Weight: 300g
Ranking: --
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Solo area of Central Java
Type: Sphere
Reference: Beyer H. O., 1954.
Collection: Photographed by Koenigswald G.H.R. von
ABOVE: A 300g tektite from Central Java. In 1954 this was reportedly the largest tektite from Java.
Weight: 85g
Ranking: --
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Sangiran, Java, Indonesia
Type: Fragment of ?spheroid. Note the Anda sculpture (terrestrial etching) and the 'fish-scale' texture which looks like the turbulent flow you get on the edges of the largest Australite buttons.
Reference: Koenigswald G.H.R. von 1960
Collection: Guido von Berg
ABOVE: An 85g Java tektite - reportedly the biggest from Sangiran. Photos from Guido von Berg.
Australia:
Weight: 437.53g
Ranking: #1 Largest Australian Tektite. Dimensions: 83.7 x 72.1 x 54.51 mm.
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Approx.3 Km West of Notting Railway Siding, W.A. 118 14’E, 32 27’S
Type: Broad Oval
Reference: On display at WA Museum, List from Peter Simmonds, Baker 1962, Cleverly 1974, McCall G. J. H. 2001.
Collection: Found by P. Repacholi. Resides in WA Museum - WAM 13238.
ABOVE: The largest known Australite at 437.53g, pictured in the WAM
Weight: 265g
Ranking: Probably the second largest Australian tektite
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Australia (no details)
Type: no data
Reference: Koenigswald G. H. R. von 1964
Collection: unknown
Weight: 255.5g
Ranking: Probably third largest in Australia
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: Approx. 18 Km NW of Kulin. W.A.
Type: Broad Oval
Reference: Seen by Peter Simmonds.
Collection: Found by and preserved by B. West. Corrigin,W.A.
Weight: 243.08
Ranking: Probably fourth largest in Australia
Strewn field: Australasian
Locality: 22 Km NE of Newdegate, W.A. 119 02’E, 33 06’S
Type: Round
Reference: List by Peter Simmonds, McCall 1965, Cleverly 1974
Collection: Found by MC. Easton. Preserved in WA Museum - WAM 12318
From Australia 10 recorded in 200g to 255.5g (second largest) range. At least 65 recorded between 100g and 200g.
Central European:
Weight: close to 500g / 500g
Ranking: Largest Bohemian Moldavite
Strewn field: Central European
Locality: Czechoslovakia, Bohemia
Type: --
Reference: McNamara and Bevan 2001 / Email by Norm Lehman 24/05/2007
Collection: unknown
Weight: 265.5g
Ranking: Largest Moravian Moldavite
Strewn field: Central European
Locality: Czechoslovakia, Moravia
Type: --
Reference: Email by Norm Lehman 24/05/2007
Collection: Unknown
Weight: 258.5g
Ranking: --
Strewn field: Central European
Locality: Moldavia, Czechoslovakia
Type: --
Reference: Email by Sterling K. Webb 24/05/2007
Collection: Unknown
North American:
Georgiaites:
Weight: 130g
Ranking: Largest Muong-Nong type Georgiaite
Strewn field: North American
Locality: south of Riddleville, Georgia
Type: MUONG NONG-TYPE
Reference: Povenmire H. 2007a; Meteorite Association of Georgia
Collection: Found by Robert Strange of Washington County on July 31st, 1993
ABOVE: A 130g Muong Nong-type tektite from Georgia. Image from McCall G. J. H. 2001. An excellent book - still available from the Geological Society of London.
Weight: 86.37g
Ranking: Largest splashform Georgiaite
Strewn field: North American
Locality: northern Dodge County
Type: broad oval splashform
Reference: Povenmire H. 2007a; Meteorite Association of Georgia
Collection: Fernbank Science Center
ABOVE: The largest splashform Georgiaite known at 86.37g. Images taken from The Meteorite Association of Georgia tektite page - an excellent site - do visit!
Weight: 70.5g (or 70.4g)
Ranking: Second largest Georgiaite
Strewn field: North American
Locality: Not Known
Type: splashform fragment
Reference: Povenmire H. 1997. Photo included in his book.
Collection: Unknown
ABOVE: A 70.5g Georgiaite. Image taken from Povenmire H. 2003 - this book is still available from many meteorite retailers.
Weight: 57g
Ranking: Third largest Georgiaite
Strewn field: North American
Locality: Dodge County
Type: Circular splashform fragment
Reference: Povenmire H. 2003.
Collection: Unknown
ABOVE: A beautiful 57g Georgiaite from Dodge County.
Georgiaites – ‘There are no known specimens in the 60 gm range. There are about 10 georgiaites in the 50 gm range and perhaps 30 specimens known with a weight in the 40 gm range.’ (Povenmire H 2003)
Recently a very large specimen [Georgiaite] has been reported with a possible weight of 150g. It was authenticated by a tektite hunter but has not been examined by the scientific community. (Povenmire H 2003)
Bediasites:
Weight: 200.84g
Dimensions: 59x57x47mm
Ranking: Largest known Bediasite
Strewn field: North American
Locality: About 3km east of Wellborn Community, College Station, Texas.
Type: Breadcrust / grooved sphere
Reference: Povenmire H. & Burrer B. 2001, Povenmire H., 2002e
Collection: Found by Brian Burrer on Sept 18, 1996 and presume still in Brian’s collection.
ABOVE: Brian's 200.84g Bediasite. Image from Povenmire H. 2003 - this book is still available from many retailers.
Weight: 191g
Ranking: Second largest Bediasite
Strewn field: North American
Locality: no data
Type: no data
Reference: Povenmire H. 2003
Collection: Unknown
Weight: 132g
Ranking: Third largest Bediasite
Strewn field: North American
Locality: no data
Type: no data
Reference: Povenmire H. 2003
Collection: Unknown
Ivory Coast:
Weight: 79g
Ranking: Largest known Ivory Coast Tektite
Strewn field: Ivory Coast
Locality: Ivory Coast
Type: Splashform
Reference: McNamara & Bevan 2001
Collection: Unknown