mineral
Fulgurite
Fulgurite (Lechatelierite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, grayish-brown color, glassy luster, amorphous crystal structure, specific gravity around 2.2.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, grayish-brown color, glassy luster, amorphous crystal structure, specific gravity around 2.2.
Formation & geological history
Formed when lightning strikes sand or soil, instantly melting and fusing quartz grains together at temperatures exceeding 1,800 degrees Celsius.
Uses & applications
Used primarily by collectors and researchers studying lightning strikes and paleoclimates.
Geological facts
Often called 'fossilized lightning,' fulgurites preserve ancient atmospheric conditions in tiny trapped gas bubbles.
Field identification & locations
Found in sandy deserts and beaches; identify by its hollow, glassy interior tube lined with melted sand grains.
