mineral
Fulgurite
Lechatelierite (Silica glass tube)
Hardness: 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, Color: Tan, brown, gray, or translucent, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Amorphous (glass)
- Hardness
- 5
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Amorphous (glass)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, Color: Tan, brown, gray, or translucent, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Amorphous (glass)
Formation & geological history
Formed when lightning strikes sand or soil, instantly melting and fusing silica grains at temperatures exceeding 1,800 degrees Celsius.
Uses & applications
Collected as unique natural geological specimens and occasionally used in educational or scientific research on lightning strikes.
Geological facts
Fulgurites are often referred to as 'petrified lightning' and preserve the exact shape of the underground electrical discharge channel.
Field identification & locations
Found in sandy deserts or beaches where frequent lightning strikes occur; identified by its tubular, glassy, and porous structure.
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