ABC Goldfields

Topic: Space

Jim Miles found a tektite 150 km north-east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

In short:

A prospector found a rare australite in WA's Goldfields.

The meteorite debris is 800,000 years old.

What's next?

A Curtin University researcher hopes to find the meteorite's landing site.

A prospector found a rare australite in WA's Goldfields.

Jim Miles was prospecting for gold when he found the black object.

Australites formed when a meteorite sent molten debris into the air.

Mr Miles said these space objects have an amazing history.

I've been wanting to find one for ages and finally got one.

Jim Miles found the tektite while searching for gold.

He donated the australite to Curtin University's Space Science Centre.

Aaron Cavosie appreciates people donating their tektite finds.

Impact site still a mystery

Australites were created by a single meteorite impact.

800,000 years is not long ago, geologically.

Tektites are found in many places, including the Indian Ocean and Antarctica.

Tektites have been found over a vast area.

Australasian tektites resemble heat shields from the Apollo program.

Each tektite has its own heat shield.

Many australites are in museums, but they're still a mystery.

We know they're natural glass, but we don't know the impact site.

More australite discoveries could help locate the site.

Australite discoveries are rare, happening only once a year or two.

The same day, a PhD student found another australite on the Nullarbor.

It's rare for two australites to be found at the same time.

On average, I get contacted about a tektite find once a year.

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