meteorite
Libyan Desert Glass
Libyan Desert Glass (Tektite / Impact Glass)
Hardness: 5.5 to 6.5 Mohs. Color: Pale yellow to golden yellow, translucent to transparent. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Structure: Amorphous silica glass. Specific Gravity: ~2.2.
- Hardness
- 5
- Color
- Pale yellow to golden yellow, translucent to transparent
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5.5 to 6.5 Mohs. Color: Pale yellow to golden yellow, translucent to transparent. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Structure: Amorphous silica glass. Specific Gravity: ~2.2.
Formation & geological history
Formed approximately 29 million years ago during a high-energy meteorite impact or hypervelocity atmospheric airburst event over the Sahara Desert, which melted local quartz-rich sandstone into silica glass.
Uses & applications
Highly sought after by meteorite and mineral collectors; used in wire-wrapped jewelry, pendants, and ornamental carvings.
Geological facts
A scarab carved from Libyan Desert Glass was famously used as the central gemstone in King Tutankhamun's ceremonial pectoral breastplate.
Field identification & locations
Found exclusively in the Great Sand Sea of western Egypt and eastern Libya. Identified by its characteristic straw-yellow hue, smooth wind-eroded surface (ventifact texture), and presence of fluidal flow lines or tiny bubbles under magnification.
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