Name TEKTITE
Variety LIBYAN DESERT GLASS
Origin Great Sea Sand (Egypt)
Hardness 6
Composition SiO2
Crystaline sys. AMORPHOUS
Size   VARIAS/SEVERAL
Weight VARIOS/SEVERAL




Description:
Libyan desert glass (LDG) belongs to the tektite group which includes various vitreous-looking stones of meteoric origin. It is found in the Great Sand Sea, which is a large area of the Egyptian Sahara bordering onto Libya. This mineral was the subject of extensive studies in order to determine its origin. The theory that most scientist accept is that is was formed some forty million years ago as the result of the impact of a large meteorite on the desert sand. It could be that this material, in this region, had a similar role as silex had in other parts of the world, as fragments have been found that appear to have been worked by Prehistoric Man (see photographs). This leaves an interesting open investigation area about this mineral. On one of Tutankhamun's pendant's centrepiece there is a fragment of LDG cut as a cabochon.


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TEKTITE



VARIETY LIBYAN DESERT GLASS