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Moldavite
A variety of 'Tektite'
This page kindly sponsored by Shelley Redmond
About Moldavite
Name:
Name first introduced by Zippe (1836) after the main occurrence at the Vltava River (Moldau River) in Southern Bohemia.
First described by Joseph Mayer in 1788 after being found within a radius of some 50km from Ceské Budëjovice.
First described by Joseph Mayer in 1788 after being found within a radius of some 50km from Ceské Budëjovice.
A green natural glass originating from the impact of a meteorite in Bavaria 15 million years ago (present Ries crater, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%B6rdlinger_Ries#Ries_impact_crater).
And: https://www.mindat.org/loc-68071.html
The impact glass was blasted into the atmosphere, travelling up to 300km, and so can be considered tektites.
Found mainly in gravel beds in southern Bohemia and Moravia (both Czech Republic), minor occurrences are in Upper Austria (Waldviertel) and Germany (Lausitz), and very rare occurrences have been reported from south-west Poland.
Moldavites were also traded by prehistoric humans and a few specimens were found outside of the strewnfield (e.g. Stainz, Styria; Gudenus cave, Lower Austria).
Note: Fake moldavite is known from Asia (Hyršl, 2015).
Small lechatelierite 'grains' and 'wires' are often found as inclusions in moldavite, and it is a hallmark for authentic moldavite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Moldavite.
And: https://www.mindat.org/loc-68071.html
The impact glass was blasted into the atmosphere, travelling up to 300km, and so can be considered tektites.
Found mainly in gravel beds in southern Bohemia and Moravia (both Czech Republic), minor occurrences are in Upper Austria (Waldviertel) and Germany (Lausitz), and very rare occurrences have been reported from south-west Poland.
Moldavites were also traded by prehistoric humans and a few specimens were found outside of the strewnfield (e.g. Stainz, Styria; Gudenus cave, Lower Austria).
Note: Fake moldavite is known from Asia (Hyršl, 2015).
Small lechatelierite 'grains' and 'wires' are often found as inclusions in moldavite, and it is a hallmark for authentic moldavite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Moldavite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
10860 (as Moldavite)
10859 (as Tektite)
10859 (as Tektite)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:10860:9 (as Moldavite)
mindat:1:1:10859:3 (as Tektite)
mindat:1:1:10859:3 (as Tektite)
Similar Names
| Moldovite | A variety of 'Ozocerite' |
Pronunciation of Moldavite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
First Recorded Occurrence of Moldavite
Synonyms of Moldavite
Other Language Names for Moldavite
Spanish:Moldavita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Moldavite associated with 'Tektite' | |
| 3 photos of Moldavite associated with Lechatelierite | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Moldavite associated with 'Obsidian' | |
| 1 photo of Moldavite associated with Pyrope | Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Moldavite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-10860.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
Mineral Dealers:
Nesměň, Ločenice, České Budějovice District, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic