Formula: SiO₂

Species:

Name: Name first introduced by Zippe (1836) after the main occurrence at the Vltava River (Moldau River) in Southern Bohemia.

First Recorded Locality: Moldavite FRL, Týn nad Vltavou, České Budějovice District, South Bohemian Region – Czech Republic

A green natural glass originating from the impact of a meteorite in Bavaria 15 million years ago (present Ries crater, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%B6rdlinger_Ries#Ries_impact_crater). Found mainly in southern Bohemia and Moravia (both Czech Republic), minor occurrences are in Upper Austria (Waldviertel) and Germany (Lausitz), and very rare occurrences have been reported from south-west Poland.
Moldavites were also traded by prehistoric humans and a few specimens were found outside of the strewnfield (e.g. Stainz, Styria; Gudenus cave, Lower Austria).