Set of 4 Moldavites from Bartochov. Very rare. Moldavite - 3 g






Over 20 years collecting meteorites; former museum curator and experienced restorer.
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A Moldavite lot from Bartochov in the Czech Republic, weight 3.001 g, with distinctive tektite glass and proven provenance, a compelling bid for collectors.
Description from the seller
Formation and origin of Moldavites
The formation of Moldavites was caused by a colossal meteorite that struck the territory of present-day Germany 15 million years ago. The meteorite landed between Nuremberg, Stuttgart, and Munich, and the crater created is currently called Ries. People may wonder how the meteorite in Germany is related to the formation of Moldavites in Czechia. The giant meteorite struck German territory at a sharp angle and was so hot during its passage through the atmosphere that, upon falling, drops of molten rock and parts of the meteorite spilled over the territory of southern Czechia and partly over southwestern Moravia. Naturshop.cz leans towards this theory, although there are perhaps three theories explaining the formation of Moldavites, which many scientists still contest.
The reason we believe in the theory that these gemstones are formed by large meteorites is that moldavites contain a rare substance called lechatelierite, which cannot be found anywhere else on our planet. Lechatelierite is a natural quartz glass that can appear yellow, green, or brown, and it is an integral part of moldavites, depending on the ability to recognize the authenticity of these different gemstones. Another interesting point is that moldavites contain almost no water, compared to other volcanic glasses like obsidian, which does contain water.
Types of Tectite
Moldavites come from the Czech Republic; they have a bottle green color, as well as their surface and internal structure. They contain a unique lechatelierite that is found only in this gemstone.
Bediasites — Tektites originating from North America are oval-shaped and have a black color.
Ivorites - black tektites from the southwestern part of Africa, particularly from the region called Côte d'Ivoire.
Irgizites come from Kazakhstan, formed by the meteorite a million years ago, and the crater formed by the meteorite is called Žamašin.
Australites come from the deserts and sand deposits of western Australia. They are black in color, and when viewed against the light, they appear darker.
Asian tektites — these stones date back 770,000 years, and the crater after a meteorite impact has not yet been found; they are found in Asia and are named after various places: Indochinites, Philippinites, Malaysinites, Javanites, and Billitonites.
Seller's Story
Formation and origin of Moldavites
The formation of Moldavites was caused by a colossal meteorite that struck the territory of present-day Germany 15 million years ago. The meteorite landed between Nuremberg, Stuttgart, and Munich, and the crater created is currently called Ries. People may wonder how the meteorite in Germany is related to the formation of Moldavites in Czechia. The giant meteorite struck German territory at a sharp angle and was so hot during its passage through the atmosphere that, upon falling, drops of molten rock and parts of the meteorite spilled over the territory of southern Czechia and partly over southwestern Moravia. Naturshop.cz leans towards this theory, although there are perhaps three theories explaining the formation of Moldavites, which many scientists still contest.
The reason we believe in the theory that these gemstones are formed by large meteorites is that moldavites contain a rare substance called lechatelierite, which cannot be found anywhere else on our planet. Lechatelierite is a natural quartz glass that can appear yellow, green, or brown, and it is an integral part of moldavites, depending on the ability to recognize the authenticity of these different gemstones. Another interesting point is that moldavites contain almost no water, compared to other volcanic glasses like obsidian, which does contain water.
Types of Tectite
Moldavites come from the Czech Republic; they have a bottle green color, as well as their surface and internal structure. They contain a unique lechatelierite that is found only in this gemstone.
Bediasites — Tektites originating from North America are oval-shaped and have a black color.
Ivorites - black tektites from the southwestern part of Africa, particularly from the region called Côte d'Ivoire.
Irgizites come from Kazakhstan, formed by the meteorite a million years ago, and the crater formed by the meteorite is called Žamašin.
Australites come from the deserts and sand deposits of western Australia. They are black in color, and when viewed against the light, they appear darker.
Asian tektites — these stones date back 770,000 years, and the crater after a meteorite impact has not yet been found; they are found in Asia and are named after various places: Indochinites, Philippinites, Malaysinites, Javanites, and Billitonites.
