mineral
Fulgurite
Fulgurite (Lechatelierite/Silica glass)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6-7 on Mohs scale, rough tubular form, gray to brown color, vitreous luster, amorphous crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6-7 on Mohs scale, rough tubular form, gray to brown color, vitreous luster, amorphous crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed instantly when lightning strikes silica-rich sand or soil, melting the material at extreme temperatures exceeding 1,800 degrees Celsius.
Uses & applications
Collected by enthusiasts, used in scientific research regarding ancient atmospheric conditions, and occasionally fashioned into jewelry.
Geological facts
Commonly known as 'fossilized lightning', fulgurites preserve hollow glass tubes where lightning vaporized moisture and air in the sand.
Field identification & locations
Found primarily in sandy deserts and coastal dune fields worldwide; easily identified by their fragile, glass-lined tubular structure with adhering sand grains.
