large Libyan Desert Glass (774 grams) - meteoritic origin

Item Description

A dramatic, large 774 gram piece of Libyan Desert glass. Libyan Desert glass or Great Sand Sea glass is found in areas in the eastern Sahara, in the deserts of eastern Libya and western Egypt. Fragments of desert glass can be found over areas of tens of square kilometers. It is considered to be an impact-caused material of meteoritic origin, made mostly of lechatelierite (an amorphous non-crystalline silica glass) (Wikipedia). Every side of this exceptional large translucent olive-green blocky piece has a different texture and form. It GLOWS with yellow-green color, when back lit! Four sides faces have distinct layering, two faces with potholes. One striking large face has bright waxy lustre with with stunning scalloped ripples, that look like waves. The opposite face is densely scalloped with matte lustre. AND the fabulous hole through the piece REALLY adds unique charcter. Mass is a very substantial 774 grams or 1.7 pounds. Specimens of 600 to 700 grams of lesser quality are offered on eBay for $1500 to $1800, and this seems a better one in general, for what it is worth. Unusual, interesting material. Interestingly, gems made of this material were found in teh tomb of King Tut and remained unidentified for many years, turning out to be this natural impact-formed "gemstone" to the ancients! A significant specimen, I think.