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Moldavite (Tektite)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  SiO₂ (75% Silica + Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ti)

Discovered in 1787;   IMA status: Not Valid
Moldavite is named after the River Moldau in the Czech Republic (then Moravia) where it was discovered in 1787.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Mineraloids

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

n/a

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Amorphous (natural glass)

Crystal Habit:

n/a

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

None

Fracture:

Conchoidal, Sub-conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

5.5 - 6.5

Density:

2.27 - 3.40 (g/cm³)

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Green, Olive Green

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.48 - 1.54  Isotropic

Birefringence:

0.00 (Isotropic)

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

n/a

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Meteor impact zones

Type Locality:

Black Desert (Libyan Desert), Central Egypt, Egypt

Year Discovered:

1787

View mineral photos:

Tektite Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org (Tektite)

Moldavite is a beautiful olive green Tektite with inclusions of bubbles and honey-like swirls. It was first discovered in the Czech Republic (then Moravia) near the River Moldau which it is named after.

Moldavite is similar to other Tektites such as Libyan Desert Glass and Indochinites. Tektites may be Meteoric Silica Glass as a result of the impact of a meteor on Earth. Tektites are usually found in association with meteor impact craters or suspected ancient craters. Their origin is not fully understood. The leading theory, the "Meteorite Impact Theory", is that when a meteorite hits the Earth, the heat and pressure of the impact are so great that it causes rock and sand to be fused into glass or Tektites. Tektites, like all natural glasses, contains gas bubbles and "swirl" like inclusions.
 

  
Moldavite gems for sale:

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