Libyan Desert Glass

Item Description

This is a rare gem meteorite-related material formed by the impact of a meteor into the earth. It is an impact glass (literally) from a strewnfield in the Western Desert of Egypt. The actual impact origin is disputed, however, by some scientists. The impact site has not been located yet, although there is clear evidence an impact happened (e.g., Kleinmann et al., 2001). The major component of Libyan Desert Glass is almost pure molten silica glass, lechatelierite. The unique material was discovered by the international scientific community in 1932 (information from MINDAT) but ancient Egyptians knew of it well enough and you can see artifacts made from this mystery material in museum exhibits of artifacts from thousands of years ago. This particular piece is larger than most and is a thick, sculptural, translucent specimen with typical yellow color and scalloped faces. Weight is 277.83 grams (1389 carats). Based upon specimens of similar size and quality, I would put the value on this piece between $1,500 - $1,800.