Thomas Ptice., 89e 12., Of Charleston, W. Va., for his question:

What is a tektite?

An up to date rockbound will want a tektite in his mineral collection. But even the experts cannot explain the origin of these hardy glassy stones. Tektites are often found where massive meteorites fell ages ago, and these fragments of fused minerals may have come from outer space.

Recent tests show that the mixture of elements in tektites is similar to that of the earth. The glassy stones, then., may have been fused from earthly materials¬on the other hand, they may be meteor fragments fused in the fiery fall through the air  no one is sure.