Moldavite fakes
Moldavite fakes are pieces of green glass made to imitate moldavite, a natural tektite from central Europe.
Moldavite is a natural green glass formed about 14.8 million years ago by the impact that created the Nördlinger Ries crater in Germany. Molten rock was flung hundreds of kilometres and fell as glass across what is now the Czech Republic and nearby areas. It is not a meteorite, but it is related to an impact and is very popular with collectors and in jewellery.
Because demand is high, many fakes are sold. Most are made from bottle or industrial glass, often too bright green, too clear and too uniform. Real moldavite usually has a muted olive to bottle-green colour, a wrinkled or etched surface, swirls and elongated bubbles inside, and small lechatelierite inclusions, threads of pure silica glass.
Fakes may be sold with dramatic claims about special powers, which have no scientific basis. To be sure, buy from established sellers. Testing for density, refractive index and inclusions by a gemmologist can confirm a doubtful piece.
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