What is libyan desert glass?

Libyan Desert Glass (LDG) is a naturally occurring glass found in areas of the eastern Sahara, in the deserts of eastern Libya and western Egypt.

• Origin: Its origin is a subject of ongoing debate. While various hypotheses have been proposed, the most prominent involves a meteoric airburst. This theory suggests that a large meteor exploded in the atmosphere, releasing an immense amount of heat that melted the desert sand into the glass we find today. Other theories involve a cometary impact, or terrestrial impact.

• Composition: The glass is almost pure silica glass, with a high percentage (around 98%) of silica. It also contains trace elements like zircon and baddeleyite.

• Appearance: Libyan Desert Glass is typically yellowish-green, but can also range in color from nearly clear to milky white. Its surface often displays characteristic features like flow lines and sculpting caused by wind abrasion over millennia.

• Age: The glass is estimated to be around 29 million years old, dating back to the Late Eocene epoch.

• Significance: It is famous for its use in a scarab beetle found in Tutankhamun's jewelry, demonstrating its value and use in ancient Egyptian culture.