Artwork from Fierce Lightning

Most people may never see fulgurite, or many who may not know that it is fulgurite at the sight. Fulgurites is natural or slag glass tube formed by the fusion of silica sand (quartz) or a stone from a lightning strike. They imitate lightning trajectory shape that spreads into the ground.

All lightning strikes that hit the ground capable of forming fulgurites. Temperatures as high as 1,800 degrees Celsius is needed to melt sand instantly and form fulgurite (lightning strike most do not have a temperature of 2,500 degrees Celsius). Fulgurites been found worldwide, but are relatively rare.

Two types fulgurite recognized: fulgurite sand and stone. Fulgurites sand is the most common and are usually found on the beach or desert areas containing dry sand clean (free of fine silt or clay). They resemble the root or branched structures such as tubes which have a rough surface, covered with sand grains partially melted.

Fulgurite sand tube having an interior glass, because of rapid cooling and solidification of the sand after a lightning strike. The size and length of fulgurite depends on the strength and thickness of lightning strikes sand land.

Many sand fulgurites that 1 or 2 inches in diameter and can be up to 30 inches in length. Fulgurites sand has been found in the Utah desert and over some of the higher peaks of the Wasatch Range.

Coatings or glass crusts formed on the rocks of a lightning strike called fulgurites fulgurite rock or rocks. Fulgurites is found in the form of veins or branched channels on the surface of a layer of rock or existing fractures in the host rock. Fulgurites rocks are mainly found around the top of the mountain.

Glass is formed when lightning strikes sand or soil. Phosphate-containing sand fused and transformed into a phosphite. In the middle is a small granite gravel trapped during the formation of the glass. An electrical path visible along the surface, leaving permanent evidence.

Top of the mountain is a natural lightning rod repeatedly destroyed by lightning during bad weather. Fulgurites stone can be found throughout the mountains in the world, including the French Alps (Mont Blanc), the Pyrenees Range, and the US such as the Sierra Nevada mountains, volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range, Rocky Mountains, and Utah Wasatch Range.

look at the pictures below.