Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Origin of Libyan Desert Silica-Glass

Nature volume 183, pages 1548–1549 (1959)Cite this article

Abstract

SINCE first reading of Libyan Desert glass1, I have been intrigued concerning its origin. In the course of investigation of impurities in the glassy state, the role of trace germanium in fused silica was studied2,3. All fused silica produced artificially from natural quartz contains trace germanium impurity. Two different fused silicas investigated contained 0.9 p.p.m. of germanium3. It occurred to me that the trace germanium content of Libyan Desert glass might offer a clue to its origin, as no trace germanium would be expected to volatilize selectively (as germanium(II) oxide) during sudden melting and quenching of a high silica-content glass.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Oakley, K. P., Nature, 170, 447 (1952).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cohen, A. J., Phys. Rev., 105, 1151 (1957).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cohen, A. J., Fifth Inter. Congr. on Glass, Munich, July 1959 (to be published in Glastechnische Berichte).

  4. Schneider, jun., W., and Sandell, E. B., Mikrochim. Acta, 2, 263 (1954).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Spencer, L. J., Mineral. Mag., 25, 425 (1939).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Friedman, I., Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta, 14, 316 (1958).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Campbell Smith, W., and Hey, M. H., Bull. Inst. français d'Afrique noire, 14, 762 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lacroix, A., C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 199, 1539 (1934).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sandford, K. S., Nature, 131, 46 (1933).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ehmann, W. D., and Kohman, T. P., Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta, 14, 364 (1958).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plate Glass Research Project, Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    ALVIN J. COHEN

Authors
  1. ALVIN J. COHEN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

COHEN, A. Origin of Libyan Desert Silica-Glass. Nature 183, 1548–1549 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/1831548b0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1831548b0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing