Moldavite #24

Moldavite is a rare, forest-green or olive-green glassy gemstone formed by a meteorite impact around 15 million years ago in what is now the Czech Republic. It’s technically a type of tektite, which is a natural glass formed when a meteorite strikes the Earth and melts surrounding terrestrial materials due to the intense heat and pressure.

Key Facts about Moldavite:

• Origin: Formed by the Ries meteorite impact in southern Germany; the heat from the impact fused terrestrial rock and flung the molten material into the air, which cooled and fell mostly in the Bohemian region (now the Czech Republic).

•  Color: Green, olive, or bottle-green, sometimes with brownish hues.

• Texture: Often has a wrinkled or etched surface known as a “sculpted” look due to natural weathering.

• Hardness: About 5.5 on the Mohs scale—so softer than quartz, and care is needed when setting it in jewelry.

• Rarity: Genuine moldavite is becoming harder to find, as it’s only mined in specific regions of the Czech Republic.