mineral

Libyan Desert Glass

Libyan Desert Glass (Impactite / High-silica Lechatelierite)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 6.5-7. Color: Pale yellow to canary yellow. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline glass). Specific Gravity: 2.2. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Transparency: Translucent to transparent.

Hardness: 6
Color: Pale yellow to canary yellow
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed roughly 29 million years ago during the Oligocene epoch. It was created by the intense heat and pressure of a meteorite impact or airburst over the Sahara Desert, which melted the local silica-rich sand into glass.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry (faceting or cabochons), metaphysical collection, and as scientific specimens of impact events.

Geological facts

This rare glass was used in ancient Egypt; a scarab carved from Libyan Desert Glass was found in the center of a pectoral worn by King Tutankhamun. It is one of the purest natural silica glasses in the world.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unique 'frosted' or wind-eroded surface and yellowish transparency. It is found exclusively in the Great Sand Sea of western Egypt and eastern Libya. Collectors look for pieces with 'Regmaglypts' or aerodynamic shapes.