Moldavite is a rare crystal that is found mainly in the Czech Republic (central Europe). It is a type of tektite, which is a natural glass formed by the impact of a meteorite. Moldavite is considered one of the rarest minerals on Earth.
Origin of moldavites
Moldavite was formed about 15 million years ago, when a meteorite impacted the earth’s surface and created a massive explosion. Since that time, the total weight of moldavites had begun to decrease. A big decrease was caused by movement of moldavites in sediments – moldavites were being abraded. Moldavites were further influenced by alkaline and acidic water in sediments, where they settle – it etched their surface. Small fragments have dissolved completely. Roughly 30 – 50t of moldavites could have been left.
Can all Moldavites be found?
We must also realize that moldavites are not concentrated in one area where they can easily be extracted. On moldavite rich sites in Bohemia it is 2-3 moldavites per 1 square meter (4qr) of sediment only.
The majority of moldavites are small and most are less than 1 inch long and weigh less than a few grams. The smallest ones can be overlooked.
Moldavites are rarer than diamonds
Moldavite is considered an extremely rare collectible and can be quite expensive due to its rarity. Prices for moldavite can vary widely depending on factors such as size, weight, quality, and rarity.
According to the total amount of extracted moldavites, gold, and diamonds, moldavites are rarer than gold and even rarer than diamonds.
