Description: Libyan Desert glass, or Great Sand Sea glass is an impactite found in areas in the eastern Sahara, in the deserts of eastern Libya and western Egypt. Fragments of desert glass can be found over areas of tens of square kilometers. Studies show the Libyan desert glass formed about 29 million years ago. The glass is nearly pure silica, which requires temperatures above 1,600℃ to form, and that is hotter than any igneous rock on Earth. Few mineral relics survived from whatever caused the melting. Within the glass are rare occurrences of high-temperature minerals, including a form of quartz called cristobalite. Those are the tiny white dots you see in some pieces.There are also grains of the mineral zircon, although most have reacted to form a higher-temperature mineral called zirconia.The new “smoking gun” for understanding the origin of the Libyan desert glass is evidence of an unusual mineral called reidite. Reidite only forms during a meteorite impact, when atoms in the mineral zircon are forced into a tighter arrangement. I had a conversation with Geoffrey Notkin (world famous meteorite hunter/expert). He told me that scientists cut open some dark pieces and extracted some of the dark material inside. Once tested, they found it to be dust from an ordinary chondrite meteorite. This is the meteorite that caused the formation of the impact glass! I will combine the cost of shipping for all the items you win during a 2 week period that are paid for in a single transaction. Postage is $4.80 for all items bought over a 2 week period but MUST pay in one transaction when finished bidding.Please note... If items are paid for separately, they will be shipped separately due to PayPal tracking reasons.Also, I ship items within 24 hours from the time of payment. Therefore, do not pay for any items until you are done bidding so I can ship everything in one package. Please take your time and don't pay for up to 2 weeks. Shipping includes tracking and delivery confirmation.International shipping is though eBay's global shipping program only. Different rules may apply. SKU - G145-19
Price: 54.95 USD
Location: Tombstone, Arizona
End Time: 2024-12-04T05:51:56.000Z
Shipping Cost: 6.49 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Item Type: Libyan Desert Glass
Specimen Type: Display Specimens
Featured Refinements: Libyan Desert Glass
Modified Item: No
Classified: Authenticated
