|
COLOR
Libyan Desert Glass appearance varies with lighting conditions. Colors may vary from white to completely translucent
yellow-green. For me the most fascinating pieces are the translucent ones. In only a few glass fragments you may find remains
of the original Meteorite (dark green or with black streaks inside). Some pieces have tiny white "bubbles" of cristobalite
that results from devitrification.
PRICING AND QUALITY
Almost all of the offered pieces were collected during a Desert Trip to the Gilf Kebir in March 2002.
Some pieces I purchased directly from a serious Desert Explorer who regularly
does trips to Libya and Egypt. Some other pieces were hand picked at the Ensisheim Meteorite Exhibition or at the Mineral
Exhibition in St. Marie aux Mines (both locations in France).
With few exceptions, the pieces I offer are unusually
of gem quality and free of recent chips or damage. If one piece should be damaged in any way I will mention it. I refuse to
deal with suppliers that have not taken good care of their LDG.
At the mentioned Mineral Exhibition in St. Marie aux Mines some sellers offered LDG to ridiculous low prices but the
quality was very poor. From 100 pieces maybe 5 to 10 were without damage. Some Ebay sellers have big stuff at very low prices.
It is also often photographed wet so you won't see the glassy chips (remember the glass has to be transported for hundreds
of kilometers in the back of a Four Weel Drive). And the worst ones are sellers from China on Ebay. Probably most of the stones
they are selling as Libyan Desert Glass are FAKED !!!
Under $3/gm is material that I am offering normally on Ebay. Most top-end material falls in the $3 to $5/gm range,
and a few super special pieces are on offer for more than $5/gm. Above $5/gm, you can be sure you are looking at museum pieces.
COLLECTING
Remember also that before you even collect one single piece you have to spend a few thousand dollars
to go into the Libyan Desert and it became recently very difficult only to get the relevant permissions from the Egyptian
Military Border Authorities to travel to the Great Sand Sea.
The whole Region was recently declared a National Park
and collecting of LDG is now strictly prohibited.
Recent reports indicate that expeditions into the Sand Sea are either
not permitted at all or require that you pay for an Egyptian military escort. Since the supply is obviously limited, the prize
for really high quality pieces can go nowhere but up.
|
