Can Moldavite Scratch Glass? (ANSWERED)

Yes, moldavite can scratch glass, and glass can often scratch moldavite.

However, the hardness of glass can very depending upon the formulation of the material.

There may be some instances where moldavite will not scratch a piece of glass, and vice versa.

In the article that follows, you’ll learn more about glass and moldavite.

Can Moldavite Scratch Glass? (EXPLAINED)

The hardness of a material determines generally whether a material can scratch another.

Moldavite rates a 5.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.

Glass rates between 5 and 7 on the Moh’s scale, depending upon the chemical composition of the specimen.

Moldavite itself is comparable to glass in sheen.

It is also as easily damaged as glass. moldavite can scratch glass, but glass can scratch it right back.

What Moldavite is Made of

The exact chemical composition of moldavite varies, but generally it is SiO₂(+Al₂O₃).

Moldavite is thus not only glass-like but it is glass, albeit naturally occurring glass that is rich in silica.

Many gems develop slowly under the ground.

Moldavite is different in that it developed all at once in a burst of sudden heat and pressure near the surface of the Earth.

It all happened so quickly gas got trapped in the crystals, forming the irregularly shaped bubbles that differentiate moldavite from man made glass.

The flow lines add a unique texture to the stone that fell from the sky.

How to Tell if You Have Real Moldavite

Even though moldavite is mossy green, it doesn’t get its name from mold!

It’s named after Europe’s Moldau River Valley where it is almost exclusively found.

Because moldavite is so rare, counterfeits are common.

The green color of a moldavite should be a dark tone.

If the green is bright and vibrant, it may be an emerald.

(Which wouldn’t be so bad.)

If it’s not green at all, it’s not moldavite.

The structure of moldavite will be amorphous rather than crystalline.

It will have a glassy sheen but a textured surface.

It’s very hard to get moldavite to be smooth and polished like a mirror.

Impurities like iron and magnesium mean that moldavite won’t be flawlessly clear.

Unlike manmade glass, moldavite has many irregularities in it.

An Out of This World Stone

Moldavite is what’s known as a tektite.

This is a form of natural glass formed by meteorite impacts.

The oldest known specimens of moldavite date back 15 million years ago.

The impact from the meteorite that struck the Czech Republic was estimated to be 6 trillion megatons.

This is the equivalent of all the atomic bombs currently in existence going off.

This is strong enough to vaporize rock.

The collision was so strong it caused the terrestrial rock and the meteorite to evaporate instantly into gas.

The gas eventually cooled and condensed into a liquid and rained down, solidifying on the way.

The Myth and Magic Behind the Moldavite

Because of the unusual way moldavite came into the world, it inspired many myths.

One such myth is that Lucifer had a crown decorated with emeralds until Michael the Archangel smote it with his sword, causing it to break into thousands of pieces and rain upon the Earth.

It is believed that the Holy Grail was carved from a chunk of moldavite.

Moldavite is believed to be so full of vibrant energy that the term “Moldavite Flush” was invented to describe the strong surge of warm energy many feel upon holding it.

People who have meditated while holding moldavite in their left hand have had quite unique experiences.

The best known specimen of moldavite is the intricately carved Venus of Willendorf, a fertility fetish created by Neolithic Austrians some 25,000 years ago.

The legendary Philosopher’s Stone to was said to be moldavite.

In lithomancy, moldavite represents journeys, the connection of heart and mind and change for the better.

The Care and Keeping of Moldavite

While moldivite’s texture is similar to pebbled glass, it is glass and can damage as easily.

If you wear it as jewelry, it is recommended moldavite be worn as a pendant or earring.

Not only does this enhance the heart and mind connection but it’s more practical than wearing it as a ring that can be easily damaged.

Because moldavite is so fragile, it should be kept away from harder materials that may damage it.

It must be kept away from harsh chemicals including make-up and perfume.

Do not use steam or an ultrasonic cleaner to clean your moldavite.

Use only the mildest of soap and tepid water.

Some people who believe in the metaphysical properties of moldavite insist on using rain water to clean it, but any clean running water that’s not too hot or too cold might be enough.

Some also recommend sunlight to “recharge” moldavite, but too much sunlight can cause discoloration.

You can immerse moldavite in sudsy water for a few minutes but it must be thoroughly rinsed and dried.

Use a soft toothbrush if you need to scrub into the crevices.

Wipe it down with a soft, lint free cloth after a cleaning.

Conclusion

The Japanese have a word they say as wabi-sabi that can be described as love for something (or even someone) because of imperfections rather than in spite of them.

Fresh flowers are preferred to plastic ones even though the leaves may have irregular patterns and they will soon die.

Wild fruits may be smaller and more oddly shaped than something from the supermarket but the taste more than makes up for it.

So it is with moldavite.

It is fragile, rare and filled with irregular bubbles, bumps and odd coloration patterns.

But all of this just adds to the stone’s beauty rather than detracts from it.

The stone that suddenly formed thousands of years ago in a single cataclysmic event is a rockhound’s dream and welcome in any collection.