DESERT GLASS FROM AN ASTEROID IMPACT ON EARTH, Sahara Desert

With pronounced scalloping along animated contours, all surfaces are frosted, the result of epochs of sandblasting by desert winds.
101 x 87 x 39 mm. (4 x 3½ x 1½ in.) and 353.4 g. (¾ lbs)

Natural glass formed as the result of terrestrial sandstone liquefying following a cataclysmal impact with an asteroid millions of years ago.
Tektites are pieces of silicate glass whose origin was long considered a mystery. Today scientists agree these materials (whose name comes from the Greek tektos, meaning “melted”) formed when an asteroid impacted Earth. The extraordinary heat that resulted from such collisions liquefied terrestrial particles which were blasted into the atmosphere, and quenched into glass before landing. Tektites are named after the locality in which they are found, hence: Australites, Indochinites, Phillipinites, Moldavites, etc. Tektites are terrestrial impact glasses; another impact product is Libyan Desert Glass. Among terrestrial impact glasses, the higher the silica content of the material the lighter the color, and so Libyan Desert Glass — which is derived from molten sandstone and is 98% silica — is sunny yellow; moldavites from the Czech Republic — with 80% silica — cover a range of greens. Now offered is a translucent example of Libyan Desert Glass found in the sands of the Sahara, where it originated from an impact which occurred 28-29 million years ago. Libyan Desert Glass was used to make tools during the Pleistocene epoch and were used as jewelry in the Pharaonic Period with examples discovered in King Tut’s tomb.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalog note.