metamorphic
Fulgurite
Fulgurite (Lechatelierite)
Hardness: 6.5; Color: Brownish-gray, greenish, or black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous (glassy); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.1-2.5
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Brownish-gray, greenish, or black
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5; Color: Brownish-gray, greenish, or black; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Amorphous (glassy); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.1-2.5
Formation & geological history
Formed when lightning strikes sand, soil, or rock, instantly melting the silica into glass tubes or amorphous clumps. Locations are often near beaches, deserts, or mountain peaks.
Uses & applications
Used in unique jewelry, scientific research into lightning physics, and highly valued by mineral collectors for their energetic significance.
Geological facts
Often called 'petrified lightning,' fulgurites can reach several feet in length underground, though they are extremely fragile and difficult to extract whole.
Field identification & locations
Identify by their bubbly, melted texture and hollow interior or vitrified surface. Often found in sandy areas after thunderstorms or in high-altitude rocky regions.
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