Moldavite
Image: H. Raab (<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Vesta" title="User:Vesta">User:Vesta</a>) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameMoldavite
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness5.5
Crystal Systemamorphous
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.35
Colorsolive green, green, brownish green
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityBesednice, Bohemia, Czech Republic
Mineral GroupTektite
Usesjewelry, collector's item, spiritual/metaphysical
Rarityrare
Description
This specimen is a translucent, deep olive-green moldavite with a highly sculpted, irregular, and deeply pitted surface, characteristic of Besednice localities. Its shape is complex and organic-looking.
Geological Context
Moldavite is a natural glass formed from the intense heat and pressure of a meteorite impact, specifically linked to the Ries impact event in Germany, which melted terrestrial rocks and ejected them into the atmosphere before solidifying and falling to Earth.
