Australites are a type of tektite formed from terrestrial debris ejected during a meteorite impact approximately 800,000 years ago. They are highly prized by collectors for their distinctive, aerodynamically ablated shapes that resulted from their re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

Hardness

5-6

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Opaque

mineralcommonTektite family

Australite

Also: Australian Tektite

Hardness: 5-6
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Opaque

Is this australite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch australite with a known reference. Australite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: black, dark brown, olive green.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: rounded, button-shaped, dumbbell, tear-drop, or aerodynamically ablated forms.

Often confused with

Australite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

$Obsidian showing the bright conchoidal fracture and glassy black break that identify it$

Often found alongside australite

Minerals reported to co-occur with australite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: SiO₂
Mohs hardness: 5-6
Density: 2.3-2.5 g/cm³
Colors: Black Dark brown Olive green
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Amorphous
Crystal habit: Rounded, button-shaped, dumbbell, tear-drop, or aerodynamically ablated forms
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Common
Uses: Collector, Lapidary
Host rock: strewn fields (alluvial deposits)

Where rockhounds find australite

Classic worldwide localities

South Australia
Western Australia
Victoria
Northern Territory

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: strewn fields (alluvial deposits). If you start seeing lechatelierite, quartz, iron oxides in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: rounded, button-shaped, dumbbell, tear-drop, or aerodynamically ablated forms. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify australite?+

Mohs hardness is 5-6. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include black, dark brown, olive green.

Where is australite found?+

Notable localities include South Australia; Western Australia; Victoria; Northern Territory.

What rocks look like australite?+

Australite is most often confused with Obsidian, Moldavite, Indochinite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with australite?+

Australite commonly co-occurs with Lechatelierite, Quartz, Iron oxides. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does australite form in?+

Where it forms: strewn fields (alluvial deposits). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is australite used for?+

Australite is used in collector, lapidary.

Find australite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.