Description
Genuine Libyan Desert Glass – Sahara Desert Specimen
This listing is for a genuine Libyan Desert Glass specimen from the Sahara Desert, sized approximately 15–30mm. The photograph shown represents an example of the actual specimen you will receive. Each piece is carefully chosen for its natural colour, texture, and collectible quality.
Your specimen includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming it is a genuine natural impact glass. Full sizing and scale can be seen clearly in the photographs.
What Is Libyan Desert Glass?
Libyan Desert Glass is a rare and fascinating natural glass formed around 29 million years ago in the eastern Sahara, near the border region of modern-day Libya and Egypt. It is considered a silica-rich impact glass, often grouped with tektites due to its extraterrestrial-linked origin.
Unlike volcanic glass such as obsidian, Libyan Desert Glass was created by an extreme high-temperature event associated with a meteorite impact or atmospheric explosion. The heat was intense enough to melt vast areas of desert sand, which then cooled rapidly into glass.
Key material characteristics:
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Type: Natural Impact Glass
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Composition: Predominantly Silicon Dioxide (SiO₂)
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Age: ~29 million years (Oligocene epoch)
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Hardness: Approximately 6 on the Mohs scale
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Formation: Meteorite impact-related melting of desert sands
Geological Origin & Formation Process
Libyan Desert Glass formed when silica-rich sands in the Sahara were exposed to extraordinary temperatures, likely exceeding 1,700°C. This melting event fused quartz grains into glass, which then solidified across a wide strewn field in the Great Sand Sea.
Over millions of years, wind erosion and desert conditions naturally shaped and polished many specimens, giving them smooth edges, sculpted surfaces, and unique textures.
Scientific studies have identified shock-related features and mineral traces supporting its impact origin, making it one of the most significant natural glasses on Earth.
Colour, Clarity & Natural Features
Libyan Desert Glass is prized for its warm desert tones and natural translucency. Specimens commonly display colours such as:
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Pale yellow
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Golden honey
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Champagne tones
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Light amber hues
Many pieces are translucent, especially when held to light. Natural features may include:
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Surface pitting from desert abrasion
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Flow lines from molten silica movement
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Small bubbles formed during rapid cooling
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Smooth wind-worn contours
Each specimen is completely natural and untreated, preserving its authentic geological history.
Collecting & Historical Significance
Libyan Desert Glass has been admired since ancient times. One of the most famous examples is its use in jewellery found among the treasures of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, highlighting its long-standing value and rarity.
Today, it is highly sought after by:
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Meteorite and impact glass collectors
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Mineral and geology enthusiasts
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Natural history collectors
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Unique gift buyers seeking rare specimens
In spiritual traditions, Libyan Desert Glass is traditionally associated with cosmic connection and transformation, though this listing presents it strictly as a natural collectible specimen without any claims beyond its geological significance.
Size & Display Appeal (15–30mm)
With a size range of approximately 15–30mm, this specimen is ideal for:
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Small collector display cases
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Educational study samples
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Pocket-sized natural history pieces
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Gift sets for mineral enthusiasts
Despite its smaller size, it still represents an authentic piece of one of Earth’s rarest impact glass deposits.
Authenticity & Product Details
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Genuine Libyan Desert Glass specimen
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Origin: Sahara Desert
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Size Range: Approximately 15–30mm
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Natural impact-formed silica glass
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Carefully selected collectible piece
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Includes Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card
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Photo shows an example of the actual specimen you will receive
A rare and scientifically important natural glass from the Sahara Desert, offering collectors a genuine piece of Earth’s deep-time impact history.
