Mineraloid · Tektite
Moldavite
SiO2-rich impact glass
Moldavite is the green tektite of southern Bohemia and Moravia, impact glass thrown from the Ries crater in Germany 14.8 million years ago, with a sculpted, etched surface. Demand from the metaphysical market has pushed prices high and produced an industry of fakes. Genuine moldavite has bubbles, flow lines and a matte etched texture; Czech collecting sites are largely exhausted and digging is restricted.
| Formula | SiO2-rich impact glass |
|---|---|
| IMA status | mineraloid |
| Crystal system | Amorphous |
| Mohs hardness | 5.5 |
| Group | Tektite |
| Type locality | Moldau (Vltava) River, Czech Republic |
Fakes and treatments
Moulded green bottle glass is sold as moldavite by the ton, usually glossy, uniform and bubble-free with repeated surface patterns; buy from Czech-sourcing dealers with certificates.
Elsewhere
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Moldavite" (Mineral). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19. https://stratum.black/study/minerals/moldavite. Accessed 2026-09-20.
@misc{stratum-moldavite,
title = {Moldavite},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/minerals/moldavite}},
year = {2026},
note = {Mineral article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19; sources: stratum, wikidata, commons. Accessed 2026-09-20.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.