Fulgurites...Sand Fused by Lightning

Fulgurite...When I was in school we were taught that there were 3 states of matter…solids, liquids and gasses. It seems the world has gotten smarter since then. There are many states of matter but there are 4 states of matter that are recognized and observable in daily life, Solids…..Liquids…. Gasses….Plasma Like a gas, plasma does not have definite shape or volume. Unlike gases, plasmas are electrically conductive, produce magnetic fields and electric currents, and respond strongly to electromagnetic forces. Plasma is actually quite common on Earth, and the majority of people observe it on a regular basis without even realizing it. Lightning, electric sparks, fluorescent lights, neon lights, plasma televisions, some types of flame and the stars are all examples of illuminated matter in the plasma state.

What Is a Fulgurite? A fulgurite is simply melted sand formed by lightning (plasma) strikes. The word fulgurite comes from the Latin word fulgur, which means “to flash” (like lightning). A fulgurite is formed when cloud to ground lightning strikes the earth. Fulgurites typically form in sand, which is mostly silicon dioxide. The melted sand forms a glass that is called lechatelierite. Lechatelierite is an amorphous material that is considered to be a mineraloid, similar to obsidian. Fulgurites come in a range of colors, including translucent white, tan, black and green. The coloration comes from impurities in the sand.

Lechatelierite is considered a mineraloid because it lacks a crystal structure. It is actually made of fused silica. Quartz is also made of silica, but it has a crystalline structure. Basically lechatelierite is natural, pure or nearly pure, silica glass. However, it differs from regular glass by virtue of its three natural origins; Meteorite Impacts, Volcanos and Lightning Strikes. The lightning strike origin is perhaps the most interesting. Obsidian is considered a natural glass but it is not pure silicon dioxide. Tektites are not lechatelierites unless they are a very pure silicon dioxide like the variety called Libyan Desert Glass.

When lightning strikes the earth in areas rich in silica sand, the intense heat and energy of the impact bolt will fuse the sand grains in a split-second with a release of energy in excess of about 1 billion Joules. A branching, hollow, glassy tube is sometimes the result. These formations produced by lightning strikes are composed of lechatelierite and sometimes with fused biotite or other minerals. They are called Fulgurites and are certainly an oddity of natural history. Fulgurites have been found that were several feet in length. Most Fulgurites are fragile and are usually found in small pieces a few inches long by a quarter inch to an inch thick. Larger pieces are high demand collectible specimens.