Terrestrial Impact Glass, The Egyptian/Libyan Border Region of the Sahara Desert
Libyan Desert Glass (“LDG”) is a natural glass formed as the result of an asteroid impact approximately 28.5 million years ago which liquified; some molten desert sand even splashed into the air. It’s the extraordinary heat that results from such impacts that liquefied the sand which was quenched into glass.
Silicate glass formations that result from such impacts are referred to as tektites. Like meteorites, tektites are named after the places where found, hence moldavite (from the Moldau River Region), philippinite, Libyan Desert Glass, etc. The greater the percentage of silica the lighter the color. Moldavite has approximately 80% silica and is dark green; LDG is typically almost entirely silica and is yellow. Specimens of LDG were fashioned into tools during the Pleistocene epoch and are frequently used in jewelry applications today. An early example of the latter is that the scarab beetle of King Tut’s pectoral pendant was a carving of LDG. Providing links between an asteroid from interplanetary space impacting Earth, the melting of Sahara sands and a fascination with these strange glass forms throughout civilizations, now offered is a translucent sphere fashioned from a larger piece of an impact glass.
39mm (1.5 in.) in diameter and 73.9 grams.
