Libyan Desert Glass is a natural impact glass formed approximately 29 million years ago, likely resulting from a meteorite airburst in the Saharan desert. It is typically found as translucent, yellow-toned pebbles scattered across the Great Sand Sea, often exhibiting distinct surface pitting from wind erosion.
Is this libyan desert glass?
4-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch libyan desert glass with a known reference. Libyan Desert Glass sits at Mohs 6-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Libyan Desert Glass typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, milky white.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Libyan Desert Glass vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside libyan desert glass
Minerals reported to co-occur with libyan desert glass. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 2.21 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Amorphous
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Impactite
- Typical price
- $50-500+ depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find libyan desert glass
Classic worldwide localities
- Great Sand Sea, Egypt
- Eastern Sahara Desert, Libya
Field-hunting tip
Look in impactite country, the host setting where libyan desert glass typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify libyan desert glass?+
Where is libyan desert glass found?+
How much is libyan desert glass worth?+
What rocks look like libyan desert glass?+
What minerals are found with libyan desert glass?+
What kind of rock does libyan desert glass form in?+
What is libyan desert glass used for?+
Find libyan desert glass on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
