Pica Glass is a strange glassy material found in a specific part of the northern Atacama desert in Chile near the town of Pica. It has a slaggy appearance that is reminiscent of Henbury or Canyon Diablo impactites. It is a largely green, grey, and black rocky material that is highly vesiculated and contains numerous inclusions. Recent research points to a cometary origin.
At first, this material was investigated as a remnant of an ancient brushfire or some product of volcanic activity. Both of these theories were ruled out by extensive research. This material has a chemical composition that is very similar to the NASA Stardust mission samples of the comet Wild 2. It also has mineral phases that are only introduced through extreme shock and temperatures far beyond that produced by terrestrial activity. Carbon dating puts this material at 12000-14000 years old, which dates it to the Pleistocene period. The consensus on this material now is that it represents the remnants of an airburst explosion of a comet or comet-like body (not unlike the larger and more well-known Tunguska event).
This material is unique on the collector market. It is the closest thing you can own to a piece of a comet. In addition to zircon grains and CAI-like inclusions, there may be microscopic particles of the original parent body in these fragments.
The specimen offered here is a large individual with a natural hole in it. It weighs 95 grams.
Refer to the photos. The black centimeter cube is shown for scale and is not included. You are purchasing the specimen shown. Your purchase will include an ID label.
