Philippinite tektites are part of the Australasian strewn field covering at least one-tenth of the Earth's surface, is the largest and the youngest of the tektite strewnfields. The 700,000 year-old strewnfield includes most of Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Southern China, Laos and Cambodia). The material from the impact stretches across the ocean to include the islands of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Java and reaches far out into the Indian Ocean and south to the western side of Australia.
The impact crater may have been between 32 and 114 kilometres in diameter. Also, some recent estimates suggest that the strewn field may cover 30% of the Earth's surface
Among the most interesting of tektites from Australasian strewnfield with those from the Philippines.
The Philippinite tektites are found in every shape form of the strike from other areas. Surface that match nicely breadcrust sphereoids counterparts in both the curve and polygonal forms. However, they are often small beautiful textured surface and finer texture and light sheen. Their surface is often smoother in appearance. Skin texture, but with this they may wind channeling and grooving deep into the skin. This U bottom grooving has been the subject of much study and debate. Is it chemically formed or is it somehow the result of cracking in the thin cooled surface with later shrinkage of the molten center material. Whatever the cause it has produced strikingly beautiful tektite specimens. One especially nice Philippinite type is the sphere and spheroid form. These often-grooved tektites outstanding in any collection. Place of origin is often the only remember them by nature.
