The Origin Story of Moldavite
Moldavite first formed roughly 14.8 million years ago during a meteorite impact event in what is now the Bohemian Plateau of the Czech Republic. When the meteorite hit the Earth, it instantaneously melted rock and soil that splashed up into the air before cooling into teardrop and worm-like shapes as they fell back to the ground. This splashing effect gave moldavite its tell-tale wrinkled exterior.
The areas where moldavite is found align with the redeposition zones of this cosmic explosion. Most pieces have been unearthed from regions that would have been located downwind of the meteorite impact crater. This includes select areas of eastern Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Austria where natural erosion has uncovered these samples over time.
The Moldavite Strewnfield
Today, moldavite specimens are concentrated within a narrow strewnfield across the Czech Republic and smaller parts of Germany. This zone is referred to as the Moldavite Strewnfield due to its high concentration of samples found within the region. The majority of moldavite discoveries have been made within a 18 mile wide zone stretching from Český Krumlov in Southern Bohemia to the city of Lusatia in Eastern Germany.
The most significant moldavite deposits have been found in the Czech Republic, predominantly around Bohemia near the town of Třeboň and along riverbeds and cultivated fields of the Vltava and Elbe rivers. Other prominent finds have been made in Moravia and around the Radomilice River. Several significant discoveries have also occurred around Cheb and Chomutov in the Czech Republic.
While less common, moldavite has also been found in various areas of Germany, Austria, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, and even as far east as Moldova. The chance of finding moldavite becomes increasingly rarer the farther one gets from the heart of the Czech strewnfield zone.
Where to Find Moldavite Today
In recent decades, moldavite has become a coveted collector's item among gemstone enthusiasts and metaphysical practitioners. As supplies of moldavite in the Czech strewnfield have depleted, most moldavite on the market today is not from new archaeological discoveries but rather from decades-old private collections reentering the open market.
For those hoping to find their own samples, moldavite hunting can still be done most successfully within the Czech Republic strewnfield zone. Many diggers concentrate their search efforts along plowed fields, riverbeds, and erosional zones where natural weathering uncovers new specimens from underneath the topsoil. While not commonplace, new moldavite samples continue to be unearthed by farmers, hobbyists, and collectors exploring the strewnfield zones of the Czech countryside.
