Libyan Desert Glass: Tektite

The "Libyan glass," also known as "desert glass" or "Sahara glass," formed in an extraordinary manner in the Sahara Desert, particularly in regions like the Gilf Kebir Desert in Egypt and the Libyan Desert, approximately 26 million years ago during the Pleistocene. Its origin is linked to an epic geological event, an extraordinary phenomenon that occurred when a sizable meteorite struck the Earth at extremely high speeds, generating extreme temperatures and causing the instantaneous fusion of the surrounding rocks and sand. In this chaotic context, Libyan glass came into existence, solidifying rapidly after the fusion. Many scholars classify it as a type of tektite, a term derived from the Greek "tektos," meaning "melted." These natural glass stones can appear in various shades, including black, dark green, and dark brown, and may have an extraterrestrial or meteoritic origin. Tektites and Libyan desert glass share a predominance of silica (silicon dioxide) in their composition, but Libyan glass stands out for its significant silica content, reaching around 98%. They also share common characteristics, such as incised and pitted surfaces, which may have been altered by the abrasive action of powerful Saharan winds. Some experts in the field have proposed the hypothesis that Libyan glass may be associated not only with material ejected from impact but also with radiative fusion resulting from massive atmospheric meteorite explosions. This theory suggests a resemblance to trinitite, a type of glass formed from sand exposed to the thermal radiation of nuclear explosions.

Libya

Silver Ring with Libyan Desert Glass.
Libya
31mm

€140.00 Ex Tax: €140.00

A Libyan Desert Glass gem, millions of years of terrestrial and cosmic history. This natural glass, characterized by an unmistakable pale yellow color, is found only in the Libyan Desert, along the bo..

Libya

Silver Ring with Libyan Desert Glass Gem.
Libya
34mm

€178.00 Ex Tax: €178.00

A Libyan Desert Glass gem, a unique stone that holds within it the history of millennia. Libyan Desert Glass, with its characteristic pale yellow hue, is a natural material found exclusively in the Li..

Libya

Meteorite Impact Glass - Libyan Desert Glass.
Libya
47mm

€450.00 Ex Tax: €450.00

Libyan Desert Glass is a type of tektite/impactite, a yellowish natural glass mineral that forms when silica is exposed to extreme heat and pressure. Libyan Desert Glass may have formed when a meteor ..

Libya

Libyan Desert Glass – Meteorite Impact Sample.
Libya
69mm

€680.00 Ex Tax: €680.00

This stunning sample of Libyan Desert Glass is a true treasure for collectors and enthusiasts of meteorite-related materials. Formed approximately 29 million years ago during a meteorite impact in the..

Libyan Desert Glass - Collector's Specimen.
71mm

€750.00 Ex Tax: €750.00

his translucent and semitransparent glass is distinguished by its range of shades, ranging from light yellow to greenish. The extraordinary purity of Libyan Desert Glass is evident in its composition:..

Showing 1 to 5 of 5 (1 Pages)
Exceptional Sample of Libyan Desert Glass.
Sold

Exceptional Sample of Libyan Desert Glass.
130mm

€6,500.00 Ex Tax: €6,500.00

This extraordinary specimen of Libyan Desert Glass, first discovered and studied in 1932 by British military cartographer Patrick A. Clayton, represents an outstanding collectible or investment piece...

Showing 1 to 1 of 1 (1 Pages)

Libya

Silver Ring with Libyan Desert Glass.
Libya
31mm

€140.00 Ex Tax: €140.00

A Libyan Desert Glass gem, millions of years of terrestrial and cosmic history. This natural glass, characterized by an unmistakable pale yellow color, is found only in the Libyan Desert, along the bo..

Libya

Silver Ring with Libyan Desert Glass Gem.
Libya
34mm

€178.00 Ex Tax: €178.00

A Libyan Desert Glass gem, a unique stone that holds within it the history of millennia. Libyan Desert Glass, with its characteristic pale yellow hue, is a natural material found exclusively in the Li..

Libya

Meteorite Impact Glass - Libyan Desert Glass.
Libya
47mm

€450.00 Ex Tax: €450.00

Libyan Desert Glass is a type of tektite/impactite, a yellowish natural glass mineral that forms when silica is exposed to extreme heat and pressure. Libyan Desert Glass may have formed when a meteor ..

Libya

Libyan Desert Glass – Meteorite Impact Sample.
Libya
69mm

€680.00 Ex Tax: €680.00

This stunning sample of Libyan Desert Glass is a true treasure for collectors and enthusiasts of meteorite-related materials. Formed approximately 29 million years ago during a meteorite impact in the..

Libyan Desert Glass - Collector's Specimen.
71mm

€750.00 Ex Tax: €750.00

his translucent and semitransparent glass is distinguished by its range of shades, ranging from light yellow to greenish. The extraordinary purity of Libyan Desert Glass is evident in its composition:..

Exceptional Sample of Libyan Desert Glass.
Sold

Exceptional Sample of Libyan Desert Glass.
130mm

€6,500.00 Ex Tax: €6,500.00

This extraordinary specimen of Libyan Desert Glass, first discovered and studied in 1932 by British military cartographer Patrick A. Clayton, represents an outstanding collectible or investment piece...

Showing 1 to 6 of 6 (1 Pages)