Tektites: Where astronomy meets gemology
What happens when a meteorite from outer space meets the Earth? The answer is a truly unique gemstone family: the tektites. Of these, the most famous is a beautiful green gem known as moldavite. While it may not be for everyone in terms of colour, the story behind its formation is what makes it a treasure unlike any other in the world of fine jewellery.
A Celestial Collision: How Tektites are Formed
Tektites are not meteorites themselves, but rather, they are a type of natural glass formed from terrestrial rock. The process is a dramatic event of cosmic proportions. When a meteor from space strikes the Earth with immense force, the resulting pressure and heat at the impact site are so great that the surrounding rock and sand instantly melt. This molten material is then blasted high into the atmosphere. As it hurtles through the air and back down to Earth, it cools and solidifies, forming the glassy, streamlined shapes we know as tektites.
The story of moldavite is tied to a specific celestial event. Roughly 15 million years ago, a massive meteor hit the area now known as the Ries crater in Germany. The impact launched molten material far across Europe, and as it cooled and fell to Earth, it created the moldavite deposits now found primarily in the Czech Republic.
The Secret in the Swirls: How to Identify Moldavite
Because of its rarity and recent surge in popularity, there is a lot of fake moldavite on the market. But a genuine piece of this celestial glass has a secret that is almost impossible to replicate: its unique inclusions.
If you look closely at a piece of moldavite, you will see tiny, distinct bubbles and swirling flow lines. These are not flaws; they are the very story of its formation. These swirling inclusions were formed as the molten material spun and solidified in its rapid flight through the atmosphere. They are a signature of its unique origin—a testament to the incredible velocity and rapid cooling it endured. Real moldavite will also often have small, worm-like inclusions of a pure silica glass called lechatelierite, and its surface will be marked by distinctive pits and wrinkles.
Image from: https://www.gemsociety.org/article/moldavite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/
