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| Libyan Desert Glass is named
after the Libyan Desert although its discovery location is actually
in the Western Desert of Egypt. It is called "glass"
because it is a natural glass made of fused silica.
| Discovered
in 1932;
IMA
status:
Not Valid (trade name) |
|
Chemistry
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|
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Chemical
Formula: |
SiO2
(95% Silica
+ Al,Ca,Fe,K,Mg,Mn,Na,Ti) |
|
Silicon
Dioxide + various impurities |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Mineraloid
(not a true mineral)
|
Varieties: |
None
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Synonyms: |
Libyan
Desert Silica, Libyan Glass, Libyan Silica Glass
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Amorphous (natural
glass)
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Crystal
Habit:
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None
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Twinning:
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None
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Physical
Properties
|
|
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Cleavage: |
Poor/indistinct,
none
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Fracture: |
Conchoidal,
Sub-conchoidal
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Moh's
Hardness: |
6.5
- 7.0
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Density:
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2.20
- 2.65 (g/cm3)
(estimated)
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Luminescence:
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Not
Fluorescent |
Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Yellow,
pale yellow,
almost colorless
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Transparency: |
Transparent
to Translucent |
Luster: |
Vitreous
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
Strewnfield/impact
site |
Common
Associations: |
None
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Common
Impurities: |
Al,
Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ti, air or gas bubbles
|
Type
Locality: |
Libyan
Desert Glass Area,
Great Sand Sea, Western Desert, Egypt |
Year
Discovered: |
1932
|
View
mineral photos: |
Libyan
Desert Glass
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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|
Mindat.org
(Libyan Desert Glass) Mindat.org
(Lechatelierite) |
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|
Libyan Desert Glass is usually
a beautiful
straw yellow or champagne yellow. It is a Tektite
material found in the Western Desert of Egypt near
the Libyan border (part of the Great Sand Sea). The
occurance of this silica-glass was first documented
by Patrick A. Clayton in 1932.
The
major component of Libyan Desert Glass is Lechatelierite,
a naturally fused, X-ray amorphous, almost pure type
of silica. Lechatelierite forms on impact of meteorites as a result of sand melting.
It also forms when lightning strikes sand or other very SiO2-rich sediments and rocks.
Lechatelierite is a mineraloid as it is amorphous and
does not have a crystalline structure. Although not a true mineral, it is often classified in the Quartz
mineral group.
Quartz is also made of silica, but it has a crystalline
structure. Lechatelierite is named after Henry Louis Le Chatelier (1850-1936), French-Italian chemist.
Until recently, Libyan Desert Glass was somewhat
controversial. It was suspected to be a Tektite similar
to Moldavite,
but was not associated with any meteor crator or impact
zone. Researchers at the Center for Remote Sensing at
Boston University have recently discovered a very large
impact crater in Egypt 31km in diameter which seems
to coincide with the formation of Libyan Desert Glass.
This crater has been named the Kebira Crater. The association
of Libyan Desert Glass with this newly discovered crater
is tentative and further research still needs to be
done.
Libyan
Desert Glass is similar to other Tektites such as Moldavite
and Indochinites.
Tektites
may be Meteoric Silica Glass as a result of the impact
of a meteor on Earth. Tektites are usually found in
association with meteor impact craters or suspected
ancient craters. Their origin is not fully understood.
The leading theory, the "Meteorite Impact
Theory", is that when a meteorite hits the Earth,
the heat and pressure of the impact are so great that
it causes rock and sand to be fused into glass
or Tektites. Tektites, like all natural glasses, contain
gas bubbles and "swirl" like inclusions.
|
Libyan
Desert Glass
gems for sale:
|
Gem:
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Libyan
Desert Glass (Tektite) |
Stock
#:
|
LDG-001 |
Weight:
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27.02
ct |
Size: |
26.0
x 18.27 x 13.55 mm |
Shape: |
Custom
Fancy |
Color: |
Strong
Straw Yellow |
Clarity: |
VS2 |
Origin: |
Western
Desert, Egypt |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$540.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
|
This
rare gem is from the
Western Desert of Egypt.
It is mostly eye clean, with a few inclusions of gas
bubbles and swirls typically associated
with Libyan Desert Glass and Tektites in
general. It is unusually large and
clean for Libyan Desert Glass and has excellent
color saturation. The faceting is beautiful
- a custom fancy cushion style cut with
very nice angles and meet point accuracy.
There aren't many like this one out there!
|
|
Gem:
|
Libyan
Desert Glass (Tektite) |
Stock
#:
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LDG-002 |
Weight:
|
20.41
ct |
Size: |
22.63
x 18.58 x 12.71 mm |
Shape: |
Pear |
Color: |
Straw
Yellow |
Clarity: |
VS2 |
Origin: |
Western
Desert, Egypt |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$400.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
|
This
rare gem is from the
Western Desert of Egypt. It is mostly eye clean, with a few inclusions of gas
bubbles and swirls typically associated
with Libyan Desert Glass and Tektites in
general. It is unusually large and
clean for Libyan Desert Glass. This gem
is very well faceted.
|
|
Gem:
|
Libyan
Desert Glass (Tektite) |
Stock
#:
|
LDG-003 |
Weight:
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20.27
ct |
Size: |
20.75
x 21.49 x 11.52 mm |
Shape: |
Pudgy
Pear |
Color: |
Straw
Yellow |
Clarity: |
VS2 |
Origin: |
Western
Desert, Egypt |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$400.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
|
This
rare gem is from the
Western Desert of Egypt. It is mostly eye clean, with a few inclusions of gas
bubbles and swirls typically associated
with Libyan Desert Glass and Tektites in
general. It is unusually large and
clean for Libyan Desert Glass. This gem
is very well faceted.
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