Gem Profile Nov. 18: Moldavite

by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong, Wire-Sculpture.com

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
November 18, 2011

Moldavite

Millions of years ago, many meteors, or huge rocks from space, slammed into the earth, forming impact craters. Traveling at extreme velocities, these meteors were incredibly hot when they entered the Earth’s atmosphere and became meteorites. As we have learned, 90% of the Earth’s crust is made of silicate minerals, or forms of quartz that are mixed with other minerals, and depending on the location of the impact, the ferocious heat from a meteorite would melt that part of the Earth’s surface. When the meteorite actually hit a puddle of melted Earth minerals, sometimes its own content combined with them forming a new substance that “splashed” through the air and then hardened either in the air or after it landed on the Earth; sometimes hundreds of miles away from the original impact in areas that have been named strewnfields. Due to the Earth’s abundant silica content, most of these new materials formed a type of glass called a tektite. Tektite comes from the Greek word tektos, meaning “melted.”

The olive to grayish or brownish green tektite that we know as moldavite is an amazing material. Found mainly in the strewnfield that covers parts of the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany, moldavite is believed to be a result of the Ries impact crater in Germany. The name moldavite comes from either the Moldau (Vltava) River or the town of Moldauthein, where it was first geologically documented. Although there are three other acknowledged strewnfields on our Earth, such as the one created by the Chesapeake Bay impact crater that threw greenish-yellow tektites as far away as the state of Georgia, the transparent green moldavite is only found in one area. While most follow the scientific consensus, there are those who do not agree with modern science and still believe that moldavite “fell to earth” as a gemstone from the heavens, similar to ancient people who called moldavite and every transparent green stone “emerald.”

Moldavite has been determined to be more than 14.7 million years old. Mid- through late-stone age Paleolithic man valued moldavite, as proven by archaeologists who found fragments and amulets of moldavite near a statue in Austria that has been named “Venus of Willendorf” dating from between 24,000 and 22,000 BCE. European jewelers have been making jewelry using moldavite for many generations, often combined with rich Bohemian garnets; however, modern jewelers didn’t begin using moldavite until the end of the 19th century. Because a lot of the air-hardened glass shattered when it returned to Earth, moldavite is generally found in smaller pieces that weigh 6 to 7 grams each, but they can vary in size up to well over 20 grams. The largest specimen ever found is on display in the National Museum in Prague, weighing in at 238 grams, or a little more than half a pound!

Colored by iron and high in silica, moldavite is prized for its odd-shaped, sculptured appearance. The resemblance to green growing things with sharp to rounded spines and tines is most appealing to jewelry artists, and has been called either “splash” or “splatter” moldavite, having been formed by the speed it flew through the air and the fact that some of the glass was still soft when it hit the earth. Attractive, but irregular shapes like teardrops, tubes, barbells, individual branches, and ornamental kale leaves are common. Unlike man-made glass, moldavite usually has elongated inclusions of gas and air bubbles, and it will never contain crystals like volcanic glass will. The best moldavite is said to be translucent; however, if a piece is thick, it will appear to be more opaque without a bright backlight, and transparent pieces are often faceted. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5 – 7, cabochons, New Age items, and small carvings are also made of moldavite. Click to check out this very lovely carving of a Moldavite Cameo I found on a website for a Prague radio station!

My research found another interesting subject related to moldavite. Did you know that many scholars who have sought an answer to the mystery of the Holy Grail think that maybe it was carved from moldavite? One legend tells of Napoleon, while seeking the truth to Christianity, of being presented with a green glass cup that he discarded. Another story tells of an ornate golden chalice, embellished with moldavite that was lost during World War II, like so many other treasures. Metaphysical uses of moldavite range from placing it under one’s pillow to encourage dreaming to carrying a piece in your pocket for a positive life change. It is known and used as “an awakener and accelerator of our spiritual evolution.”

Yes, natural moldavite is incredibly unique in its shapes and color, but because it is so rare, beware! There are many counterfeit materials being marketed as genuine moldavite. First, there is no such thing as “African” moldavite. The green glass that is said to come from locations such as Tanzania is as clear and bright green as an old soda or beer bottle, and there are no gas or air bubbles in most of it. Those pieces that do have round bubbles are not moldavite. Some people are actually melting glass and then pouring it into molds made from real moldavite, but remember, like snowflakes no two pieces of moldavite look alike and the “molded” glass will not have the sharp tines! Still another ruse is to melt old glass and pour it onto the earth, and then grind or tumble the dirt away to be able to sell the glass as “facet grade” moldavite. Material sold as “blue” moldavite is probably labradorite.

Moldavite has always been a very special stone and it is now almost extinct! There were several mines in the Reis impact crater strewnfield area, but about all of them have now played out. Last year (2010) I spoke with my personal moldavite dealer from the Czech Republic who said then that they were currently digging more than 10 meters down and there was very little moldavite to be found. When I purchased my first specimens around 1995, I paid $2.00/gram. Last year it had gone up to $12/gram and that wasn’t for the “designer” pieces I was seeking! So, I guess I will have to be content with the collection I have, and I hesitate to make jewelry from any of them, without a prepaid custom order!

Staying with the glass varieties of gem-rocks, next week’s subject will be volcanic glass, or obsidian. Have you made wire jewelry with obsidian before? Email pictures to tips@wire-sculpture.com, and they could be featured!

Resources

Print Resources:

• The Book of Stones and What They Teach by Naisha Ahsian and Robert Simmons, ISBN 1-5564-3668-8
• Collecting Rocks, Gems and Minerals by Patti Polk, ISBN 1-4402-0415-2
• Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann, ISBN 0-8069-3088-8
• Moldavite: Starborn Stone of Transformation Kathy Warner and Robert Simmons, ISBN 0-9621-9100-0

Internet Resources:

• europeanhistory.about.com
• www.radio.cz
• www.wikipedia.org

Gem Profile by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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11 Comments

1. 

   lindacay

   November 18, 2011 at 11:07 am

   how nice is this I love the articles on gemstones and such thank you Lindacay
2. 

   Joanne Gregg

   November 18, 2011 at 1:33 pm

   I had been working wire & making jewelry for about 2yrs.Then I discovered Wire Sculpture & the wonderful instructional video’s from Dale. I had designs in my head, but not the technique. Thanks to Dale I’m a business woman with a website of my own! I’m gifted with the talent of my grandmom that I can just look at something long enough & I can make it myself. I sew a lot too & hardly ever buy a pattern. With wire I just didn’t have the knowledge of square wire so I used all round. Most of my designs are loved by those who now have them but without Dale I would never have had the knowledge of what wire to use & how much! I’ve made some of my own variations of Dales work recently & I just wanted to thank her for all her great instruction. Her articles are wonderful education for all.
   • 

     dalecgr

     November 19, 2011 at 11:06 am

     Wow Joanne – congratulations!! And thank you. As a technique instructor, my goal is to be able to help everyone do exactly what you do! Learn the techniques and how to use them by following a patten, and then run with them, making your own designs! Happy Holidays!!
3. 

   Margaret Lakas

   November 18, 2011 at 3:28 pm

   Wow, I never heard of this before. I saw one online today that had a huge bubble. Very interesting article, as usual. I wonder if WS has noticed that they run out of whatever stone you are writing about on Fridays. You are a wonderful educator in so many ways. Thank you for taking the time to share with us.
   • 

     dalecgr

     November 19, 2011 at 11:01 am

     Hi Margaret, actually I do not choose stones to write about that WS has in stock or has at all. I write about things I know are on the market and that would make lovely wire jewelry. I am so pleased that you enjoy what I share Thanks!!
4. 

   Kathy Eastman

   November 20, 2011 at 3:53 am

   The Moldavite Cameo referred to in this weeks profile…Wow!! Beautiful!!!
5. 

   Susan Neri

   December 1, 2011 at 12:36 am

   Moldavite is a beautiful stone. I have wrapped some very nice pieces of Moldavite and I found that the stome is very fragile. It is possible to chip the stone when you tighten down your wraps.

6. Pingback: What is Bronzite? | Jewelry Making Blog | Information | Education | Videos

7. 

   Walter Streng

   March 23, 2015 at 7:11 pm

   If you are looking for just about any crystal out there, including MOLDAVITE, for wrapping or personal use, you should check out ROCK STAR CRYSTALS in NYC. They don’t sell or the web or do mail order, but if you are in NYC or are planning a trip there, this rock shop and gemstone metaphysical store has an astounding supply of just about everything. You can call them at 212 675 3065 or go to http://www.rockstarcrystalsmanhattan.com. Or check out any rock shop or meta[physical shop in your area.
8. 

   Brenda Revmor

   July 7, 2015 at 11:54 am

   Comment and question. about 30 years ago I found large chunks of glass appearing material, transparent green, gold, lime=green and one chunk of cobalt blue with bubbles in it. When held up to the light it was hard to look at due to the brilliance of color. I found these in Maryland and during those years, a geologist from Uni. of Md. said he did not believe they were anything, just glass or “fordalite” whatever that means. I also found under tree roots after a storm wash-out, dark non-transparent non-cryataline material that I am positive is obsidian, buckets of it. Black, to gray, some with concoidal
   features. I am very curious about the transparent colored pieces if it may be moldavite and how to find out if it is terrestrial glass, or just some mining trash since the colored transp. pieces were near an old chromite mine in Maryland. I recently read about the Chesapeake Bay Impact and find this sooo interesting. Thanks, Brenda Revmor
9. 

   Moldavite lover

   January 20, 2016 at 2:06 am

   The falsification of moldavites is realy problem. More then three quarters of moldavites circulating the market is counterfeit
   If you are planning to buy a moldavite, please be vigilant. Check the seller and mainly the moldavite.
   I learned how to spot a fake moldavite from this book:
   http://www.aboutmoldavites.com/books/how-to-identify-genuine-moldavites-and-moldavite-fakes/