The Strewn Field
Moldavite specimens are found exclusively within a ~20,000 km² strewn field stretching across southern Bohemia and western Moravia in the Czech Republic, with rare finds in adjacent areas of Austria and Germany.
The name "moldavite" was coined by Franz Xaver Zippe in 1836, derived from the Moldau River (now Vltava) near which specimens were first scientifically described.
Key Localities
| Locality | Region | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Besednice | South Bohemia | Spiky "hedgehog" specimens, highly prized |
| Chlum nad Malší | South Bohemia | Classic drop shapes, good transparency |
| Slavče | South Bohemia | Large specimens, museum quality |
| Ločenice | South Bohemia | Varied morphology, surface sculpting |
| Moravian sites | Western Moravia | Typically smaller, brownish-green tint |
Why Only Here?
The strewn field's location is a direct consequence of impact ballistics. The asteroid struck Bavaria from a specific angle, and the ejected molten glass followed predictable suborbital trajectories. The physics of the impact, Earth's rotation, and atmospheric re-entry dynamics determined exactly where moldavite would land.
There is no geological process that could create moldavite elsewhere. The composition of the target rocks, the energy of the specific impact, and the flight path of the ejecta are unique, unrepeatable conditions.
Mining Today
Surface collection — once the primary method — is now nearly exhausted. Deeper deposits require excavation permits regulated by the Czech government. Many historic sites are now protected or depleted. The era of casual moldavite collecting is over.