HUANGCHUAN (KWANGCHOWAN) (KWANG-CHOW WAN), HENAN PROVINCE, SOUTHERN CHINA    

TYPE:  Tektite - Indochinite                  “CM” REF:  P  456 #                        FOUND:  Known before A D  950

According to J  O’Keefe, in “Tektites and Their Origin”, P  3 (1976), tektites  have been known from Southern China since about A D  950, when they were collected in the fields after sudden rainstorms in Leichow   These Chinese tektites were called Lei-gong-mo by the local people   Illustrations of some of the Chinese tektites can be found on P  71, Plate 12D  and E , as well as on P  78, Plate 15C   Ten of the illustrations from “Tektites”, J  O’Keefe, Plate X (1963), showing specimens from Huangchuan (Kwangchowan) appear below   A copy of the entire Plate X text, including physical descriptions of the specimens and photographs of all 23 illustrated specimens from Huangchuan and other localities in Southern China, will be sent with each order for specimens from this list   These Chinese tektites can be characterized, for the most part, into some of the same basic shape categories as are used for tektites from other Asian localities   In “Tektites and Their Origin”, P  37, O’Keefe categorizes and describes the basic physical features of  splash-form tektites, and notes that the great majority of all known tektites fit into the splash-form category   On P  6-7 of “Tektites”, the author lists the recorded shapes of specimens from the various tektite groups, and the following are applied to Indochinites: batons, discs, dumbbells, ellipsoidal forms, gherkins, hollow forms, plaques, spheres, teardrops, and irregular forms   For ease of presentation, these Chinese tektites have basically been categorized into nine groups, according to their physical features, using O’Keefe’s guidelines   In the nine categories described below, the structure of the anterior (front), and posterior (back) of most specimens is remarkably different   On P  106 in “Tektites and Their Origin”, under the discussion on the color of tektites, O’Keefe states that most tektites are black, and that they usually show shades of brown or green, rather than gray, which helps to distinguish them from terrestrial obsidian   These Chinese tektites have a medium to dark olive-brownish-green color, which is obvious on thin edges, when specimens are held up to a light source   The TYPE VIII Plaques, described on Page 9, are relatively thin and therefore transmit light easily, so this group demonstrates the unusual color better than examples from other groups where the specimens tend to be thicker

Please remember that these are all natural specimens and that, when we refer to a particular photograph, or group of  photos in the references given below,  the example pictured in the photograph has been selected by the author of the book to illustrate a special form or characteristic   In nature, no two specimens are exactly alike, so please bear in mind that each specimen, in each of the categories listed below, will not be exactly like the specimen illustrated in the book   Each specimen offered within a category will be similar to the specimen(s) illustrated, and will have the same basic physical characteristics as the pictured examples   Pricing for all of the Chinese tektites, in all of the nine types categorized below, is @ +/- $2 00 per gram   The  two reference books, used to characterize and illustrate the specimens offered here, are listed below   To help shorten the repetitive and lengthy citing of these references throughout the remainder of the description of the Chinese tektites, the following abbreviations will be used:
 

TYPE I - Gouges, or elongated depressions - In this group the tektites have fairly regular physical features exhibited over all sides of each specimen, with the exception of the gouges, or elongated depressions   The gouges are U-shaped in cross section, with a length which is several times the width   Illustrations of specimens showing these U-shaped, elongated depressions, or gouges, appear in “T & TO” as Plate 5B  on P  61 (top-right example), and Plate 7B  on P  63 (both specimens)

TYPE II - Meandrine grooves - The tektites in this group exhibit the feature O’Keefe refers to as meandrine grooves, which are U-shaped in cross section, and are seen to meander, or travel haphazardly about over the surface of the tektite, not unlike worm tracks in old wood   Two photographs of tektites exhibiting meandrine grooves are illustrated in Plate 7C  and 7D , on P  64 of  “T & TO”

TYPE III - Large, elongated bubbles - Tektites showing the remnants of unusually large, open, elongated bubbles are illustrated in “T & TO”, P. 70-71, Plate 12A., 12C., and 12D.  The backs of these specimens, from Huangchuan (Kwang-Cho Wan), are similar to Plate 12B., 12C., and 12E.  Some of the backs also bear resemblance to the forms shown in Plate 7D. on P. 64, Plate 14C. on P. 75,  or Plate 15C. on P. 78.

TYPE IV - Single oval or round bubbles - These forms are illustrated in “TEK”, by J. O’Keefe, Plate X (reproduced on P. 12), as items number 2. and 4. where a single, large oval or round bubble can be seen on the front, or anterior side of the tektite.  The backs, or posterior sides on all of the specimens in this group resemble the backs of the tektites illustrated in “T & TO”, Plate 7D. on P. 64, Plate 14C. on P. 75, or Plate  15C. on P. 78.

TYPE V - Multiple bubbles - This form is illustrated in “TEK”, by J. O’Keefe, Plate X (see P. 12), as item numbers 1., 6., 7., and 9., where two or more smaller, yet pronounced and often deep, round to oval bubbles can be seen on the front, or anterior side of the tektite.  The back, or posterior side on all of these specimens resembles the backs of the tektites illustrated in “T & TO”, Plate 7D. on P. 64, Plate 14C. on P. 75, or Plate 15C. on P.

TYPE VI - “Gutter” form fragments - Illustrated in “TEK”, Plate X (see P. 12), as item number 10.  Only three examples of this unusual, elongated form were obtained.  They bear a fairly strong resemblance to the specimen pictured -- not necessarily attractive, yet obviously different in physical appearance from the other types described herein.

TYPE VII - Teardrops - Indochinites from other localities usually have a more perfect, classic teardrop symmetry, yet the teardrop forms from Huang- chuan (Kwangchowan) are somewhat irregular in shape.  They are sometmes crossed by gouges, or elongated depressions, as described in  TYPE I on P. 12.  A photograph of a teardrop form from this locality (also sometimes seen spelled Kwang-cho Wan) appears in “T & TO”, P. 78, Plate 15C.

TYPE VIII - Plaques - Plaques, as defined on P. 6 of “TEK” are flat, plate-like to thicker, tabular Indochinites.  Since these specimens are relatively thin and translucent, the medium olive-greenish-brown color is very obvious when specimens are held up to a light source.  Surface features are fairly smooth on the anterior sides, and the posterior sides are usually similar  to the backs of the tektites illustrated in “T & TO”, Plate 7D, on P. 64, Plate 14C. on P. 75,  or Plate 15C. on P. 7

TYPE IX - Irregular forms - Specimens in this group are elongated, rod-like to oval forms, similar to those found at other Indochinite localities, for which no illustrations could be found in the references available to us.  All have small gouges (described in TYPE I on P. 7), and/or typical pitted surfaces, as shown in “T & TO”, Page 63, Plate 7B., Page 70-71, Plate 12B.,  12C., and 12E., or Page 78, Plate 15C.

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