mineral (impactite)
Libyan Desert Glass
Libyan Desert Glass (SiO2 with trace elements)
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs); Color: Pale yellow to light greenish-yellow; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline glass); Specific Gravity: 2.21
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Pale yellow to light greenish-yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs); Color: Pale yellow to light greenish-yellow; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline glass); Specific Gravity: 2.21
Formation & geological history
Formed approximately 26-29 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 sand into glass.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry, as metaphysical stones, and as scientific specimens for geological collection. Historically used by ancient Egyptians for ornamental artifacts.
Geological facts
A scarab carved from Libyan Desert Glass was found in the center of Tutankhamun's pectoral jewelry. It is one of the rarest natural glasses on Earth, found only in the Great Sand Sea bordering Libya and Egypt.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its distinctive yellowish translucency, lack of bubbles compared to man-made glass, and often wind-eroded (dreikanter) aerodynamic shapes. It is typically found scattered on the surface of desert corridors between sand dunes.
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