Libyan Desert Glass

About Libyan Desert Glass

A pale yellow natural glass found between the dunes of the Great Sand Sea in western Egypt. It is almost pure silica and formed about 29 million years ago, most likely from the heat of a meteorite impact or airburst. Prehistoric people shaped it into tools. The central scarab of a pectoral from the tomb of Tutankhamun is carved from it. It is still collected by hand from the desert floor.