Skye Impactite - Isle of Skye, Scotland - 49 g

Skye Impactite Meteorite Impact Material — 49 g

This Skye impactite is a wedge-shaped specimen that reveals both its internal and external features. The polished, smooth face shows a dense, fine-grained gray-green-to-olive matrix of tightly interlocked microcrystalline grains formed during rapid cooling of impact melt. Dark, irregular speckles appear throughout the matrix as rounded-to-angular grains locked in place during cooling.

The rock is classified as an impactite because it formed when a meteorite impact subjected local crustal material to extreme pressure and temperature, producing shock modification, partial melting, and rapid re-solidification. In contrast, the darker, unpolished back surface preserves patches of oxidized iron oxide developed during surface exposure over geologic time, clearly contrasting with the fresher interior.

This impactite from the Isle of Skye, Scotland, provides a clear example of how sudden impact pressure, melting, and rapid cooling transform ordinary crustal rock into a fine-grained material that preserves both shock processes and surface history.

Skye Impactite Information

• Specimen: Skye impactite (meteorite ejecta rock)
• Locality: Isle of Skye, northwest Scotland
• Geologic age: Paleocene, ~60 million years
• Dimensions: approx. 60 × 52 × 14 mm (2.36 × 2.05 × 0.55 in)
• Weight: 49 grams
• Finish: Professionally trimmed and diamond-polished smooth
• Includes: Certificate of Authenticity, specimen tag, tag stand, printed information sheet
• Not included: Photo cube and display stand

Geological & Scientific Significance

Skye impactites record a Paleocene meteorite event preserved beneath later volcanic lavas. The impact layer lies at the base of flows associated with the British Paleogene Igneous Province, linking a confirmed impact event with the onset of regional volcanism.

Unlike ordinary igneous or sedimentary rocks, impactites form during extremely brief, high-energy events in which kinetic energy is transferred into the crust, fracturing, heating, and partially melting target rocks, thereby preserving a physical record of the event.

Why Collectors Value Skye Impactites

Skye impactites combine solid scientific documentation with a concise geological narrative. Exposure is limited, outcrops are difficult to find, and careful field collection is required, resulting in prepared specimens becoming increasingly scarce.

This is a scarce specimen suited for serious private collections. Its size and visually engaging features make it ideal for studying terrestrial impact processes and explaining impact science.

Add This Skye Impactite to Your Collection

Whether for an impactite series, planetary geology instruction, or a personal mini-museum, this Skye impactite offers a well-documented example of a confirmed meteorite impact in Scotland. With the Certificate of Authenticity, a tag, a tag stand, and information, it is ready to be cataloged, studied, and exhibited.