Moldavite Mineral Specimen

MOLDAVITE

HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES: Moldavite, pronounced MOLE-da-vite, was first described in 1786 and is named for Czechoslovakia’s Moldau River Valley, where it was first found.  Although initially thought to be a type of obsidian, it is actually a variety of tektite, a glassy material of meteoritic origin.  Moldavite is found only in the Bohemia and Moravia regions of Czechoslovakia.

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Moldavite is not a mineral species, but a high-silica, glass-like material of indefinite composition.  It formed 15 million years ago in a meteoritic impact in what is now western Czechoslovakia when molten rock was ejected into the air to cool rapidly and fall to Earth.  Moldavite has a Mohs hardness of 5.5, a specific gravity of 2.35, a conchoidal fracture, a vitreous luster, and no cleavage.  It is translucent to semi-transparent, with colors ranging from green to brownish-green.  Moldavite occurs as small, irregular masses with pitted, wrinkled surfaces.  Only about 275 tons of moldavite are estimated to exist, and most of the Czechoslovakian sources have been depleted.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES: Since the early 1800s, moldavite has been valued as a semiprecious gemstone that is fashioned into cabochons.  Moldavite is (arguably) considered to be the only gemstone of extraterrestrial origin.  According to metaphysical belief, moldavite activates the dream state while asleep, helps foster a deeper level of compassion and understanding for the human condition, and aids in the expansion of consciousness.

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Moldavite is collected for its rarity, unusual meteoritic origin, and the uncertainty of its future supply.