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Libyan Desert Glass, AAA+ Grade, Sahara Desert, Egypt, 32g

Regular price $160.00

Libyan Desert Glass Tektite with Cristobalite inclusions, 32g. 

This Libyan Desert Glass specimen is near flawless AAA+ top quality, with a sunlit golden yellow color, sculpted form, translucent gemmy clarity and a beautiful glow. The Cristobalite inclusions appear as white bubbles within the Libyan Desert Glass. Cristobalite is a silica polymorph mineral that forms at very high temperatures. The well formed shape and ventifacts of this piece, lets us know it was a surface specimen, on top of the sand, exposed to the elements. 

We specialize in the best quality Libyan Desert Glass and carefully hand select each piece in person for best condition, color, clarity and form. 

  • Tektite: Libyan Desert Glass with Cristobalite
  • Weight: 32g
  • Size: 40mm length
  • Locality: Great Sand Sea, Sahara Desert, Egypt 
  • Quality: AAA+ Near flawless (slight micro nicks), Top Quality
  • You'll receive the LDG specimen shown in these photos.
  • Includes specimen ID card with cotton-filled gift box. 

Libyan Desert Glass is considered by many to be the most beautiful and valuable tektite ever discovered and the most difficult to collect. Due to the remote area, tremendous effort is required when attempting to cross the vast sand dunes, to reach the Libyan Desert Glass strewnfield, deep in the Sahara Desert, in Southwest Egypt near the border of Libya. These golden tektite gems are scattered over 6000 kilometers between the shifting sand dunes of the Great Sand Sea, the nearest landmarks are Koufra Oasis and Gilf Kebir Plateau. Instability in the region has made collecting and exporting difficult, prices are expected to rise in the future due to supply and demand. 

About Libyan Desert Glass
Libyan Desert Glass has been used since ancient times, for tools and jewelry. In ancient Egypt, the funerary necklace of King Tutankhamen has a large scarab centerpiece made of Libyan Gold Tektite. When the tomb of King Tutankhamen was discovered in 1922, the gem was thought to be Chalcedony, it wasn't until over 75 years later that Italian mineralogist Vincenzo de Michele analyzed the optical properties of the scarab gemstone and confirmed it was Libyan Desert Glass.

Studies show Libyan Desert Glass formed about 29 million years ago when a meteorite impacted somewhere in or around the Sahara Desert, the location is still unknown. The impact blast caused quartz sand to rapidly heat and cool, creating fragments of meteorite impact glass, known as tektites. They are similar in composition to Moldavite and other tektites but the difference in color comes from the landscape of the impact location. Libyan Gold Tektites are nearly pure silica, which requires 1,600 degrees Celsius to form.

The origin of Libyan Desert Glass was unknown until recent years. Since the impact crater has never been found in the region but the area is rich in meteorites, one theory was that LDG was the result of a megaton airburst. This occurs when a meteoroid enters the atmosphere at speeds anywhere from 25,000mph to 160,000mph. The friction and heat causes the meteor to ignite into a fireball as it streaks across the sky. Most meteors burn up high in the atmosphere before reaching Earth. However, in a megaton airburst, an explosive blast occurs in midair, equivalent to a nuclear explosion, an airburst can melt surface materials on Earth without leaving a crater.

However, after scientific analysis it was discovered that Libyan Desert Glass contains many grains of the mineral Zircon and evidence of Reidite. Reidite is a rare mineral that only forms during a meteorite impact, when atoms from the mineral Zircon are forced into a tighter formation. Such high pressure minerals are an indication of a meteorite impact and do not form during airbursts.

Research confirms Libyan Desert Glass is indeed the result of a meteorite impact but the mystery remains surrounding the meteorite that created Libyan Desert Glass. Scientists have theories but are unable to confirm any details about the meteorite, crater location or size of the blast. 

Particles believed to be from the meteorite can be found in Libyan Desert Glass specimens, captured in the molten silica glass as it cooled and solidified, including: Cristobalite, air bubbles and other inclusions. Each Libyan Desert Glass tektite is fascinating piece of ancient history.

Libyan Desert Glass Metaphysical Benefits
Libyan Desert Glass Tektite carries the strong energizing frequencies of its meteoric birth and can activate ones creative energies. It can enhance the strength of ones will, ones ability to create and ones power of manifestation. Libyan Desert Glass is an ideal stone for enhancing ones meditation practice, the achievement of self-transformation, aligning with your highest calling and manifesting your true potential. Libyan Desert Glass Tektite can help overly shy or reclusive individuals to be more outgoing and social. It helps one to cultivate a more playful and creative approach to life. It stimulates the active aspect of the energy field, bringing a revitalizing frequency into the emotional body and sharpens ones mental abilities. It stimulates feelings of happiness, curiosity, willingness and playfulness. Its an excellent stone for those who take themselves, or life too seriously. Libyan Desert Glass Tektite activates all chakras but is excellent for strengthening the solar plexus chakra. (References: Robert Simmons The Book of Stones.)


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