Trinitite (Trinity Glass) 1.63g | Trinity Test Site, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA

Trinitite, also called Trinity Glass. This rare historic green glass formed by the fusing of sand during the world's first nuclear explosion, named Trinity. The Trinity test site is about 35 miles southeast of Socorro, New Mexico, today the area is known as White Sands Missile Range. The blast occurred at 5:29am on July 16th, 1945. The explosive power was equivalent to 20 kilotons of TNT. The explosion created a glass-lined crater, 10ft deep and nearly 1,100ft wide. Most pieces of Trinitite currently in collections were recovered in the late 1940s and early 1950s, as the United States Atomic Commission bulldozed and buried the crater in 1952. Collecting Trinity Glass was banned in the 1950s, it remains banned and illegal to collect still today. One interesting characteristic of Trinitite, is the sand grain textured bottom, with a smooth melted upper surface. This has lead many to believe these Trinitite pieces were actually formed from sand that was sucked up into the fireball of the explosion and later fell into the crater, rather than simply melting in place beneath the explosion. The Trinity test site is usually off limits, opening only 1-2 times a year for visitors. Our Trinitite is from a former rock shop owner who retired years ago, he had it stored away for decades.

*To show the unique details of this piece, we bring it very close to the camera lens. This may make some items appear larger than their actual size. Please see actual dimensions below and video with measuring tape.

• Material: Trinitite (Trinity Glass)
• Locality: Trinity Test Site, White Sands Missile Range, Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA
• Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 6mm 
• Weight: 1.63g
• Size Category: Thumbnail
  
• You'll receive the Trinitite specimen shown in these photos.
• Includes 1.25" x 1.25" collectors box with specimen label.