9947

Libyan Desert Glass Sphere

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,400.00 USD
Libyan Desert Glass Sphere

Bidding Over

The auction is over for this lot.
The auctioneer wasn't accepting online bids for this lot.

Contact the auctioneer for information on the auction results.

Search for other lots to bid on...
Auction Date:2023 Apr 20 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Terrestrial Impact Glass, The Egyptian/Libyan Border Region of the Sahara Desert

Libyan Desert Glass (“LDG”) is a natural glass formed as the result of an asteroid impact approximately 28.5 million years ago which liquified; some molten desert sand even splashed into the air. It’s the extraordinary heat that results from such impacts that liquefied the sand which was quenched into glass.

Silicate glass formations that result from such impacts are referred to as tektites. Like meteorites, tektites are named after the places where found, hence moldavite (from the Moldau River Region), philippinite, Libyan Desert Glass, etc. The greater the percentage of silica the lighter the color. Moldavite has approximately 80% silica and is dark green; LDG is typically almost entirely silica and is yellow. Specimens of LDG were fashioned into tools during the Pleistocene epoch and are frequently used in jewelry applications today. An early example of the latter is that the scarab beetle of King Tut’s pectoral pendant was a carving of LDG. Providing links between an asteroid from interplanetary space impacting Earth, the melting of Sahara sands and a fascination with these strange glass forms throughout civilizations, now offered is a translucent sphere fashioned from a larger piece of an impact glass.

39mm (1.5 in.) in diameter and 73.9 grams.