Libyan Desert Glass Value Guide

Libyan Desert Glass is a rare natural silica glass formed by a meteoritic airburst or impact event in the Great Sand Sea approximately 29 million years ago. This golden-hued impactite gained legendary status after being discovered as the centerpiece of a carved scarab in King Tutankhamun's pectoral jewelry.

What affects the value of Libyan Desert Glass?

• Clarity and color intensity, with vibrant 'canary' yellow specimens commanding higher prices.
• Weight and size, as larger pieces suitable for carving or display are increasingly difficult to source.
• The presence of rare dark streaks or inclusions that prove its meteoric origin and impact history.
• Overall shape and aerodynamic sculpting, with naturally 'wind-polished' pieces being more desirable to collectors.

How to Identify Libyan Desert Glass?

• Look for a translucent to semi-opaque pale yellow or greenish-yellow color characteristic of high-silica impact glass.
• Examine the surface for 'regmaglypts' or wind-sculpted pits caused by thousands of years of desert erosion.
• Check for internal flow lines and small bubbles or dark inclusions of meteoric material trapped within the silica.
• Verify the texture, which should feel smoother and more vitreous than common desert quartz or sea glass.

History of Libyan Desert Glass

Libyan Desert Glass has a rich history, with evidence of its use dating back to ancient Egypt. A scarab carved from Libyan Desert Glass was found in Tutankhamun's tomb, suggesting its high value and symbolic importance. It is believed to have formed approximately 29 million years ago during a meteoritic airburst or impact event over the Great Sand Sea region of Egypt and Libya.